Improving value in primary total joint arthroplasty care pathways: changes in inpatient physical therapy staffing.

ABSTRACT:

Background

An early physical therapy (PT) care pathway was implemented to provide same-day ambulation after total joint arthroplasty by changing PT staffing hours.

Methods

After receiving an exemption from our institutional review board, we performed a secondary data analysis on a cohort of patients that underwent primary TJA of the hip or knee 6 months before and 12 months after implementation of the change. Data on same-day ambulation rates, length of stay (LOS), and in-hospital costs were reviewed.

Results

Early evaluation and mobilization of patients by PT improved on postoperative day (POD) 0 from 64% to 85% after the change (P ≤ .001). The median LOS before the change was 3.27 days compared to 3.23 days after the change (P = .014). Patients with hi

SUBMITTER: Pelt CE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5365407 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature