DePuy Synthes Offers Outpatient Solutions for Joint Replacement Patients

Warsaw, Ind.-based DePuy Synthes Companies has launched the Depuy Synthes Advantage Outpatient Solutions Program to facilitate best practices and protocols for joint replacement in ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs) and outpatient hospitals throughout the United States.

“Outpatient joint replacement is an emerging option for healthy, motivated patients that may help them safely recover more quickly, and in the comfort of their own homes, instead of in the hospital,” said Scott Zellner, Director, Depuy Synthes Advantage. “When performed on the right patient, in the right setting, with trained staff, and leveraging innovative surgical techniques and implant technologies, these procedures have the potential to improve outcomes, speed recovery, manage costs, improve efficiency and increase patient satisfaction.”     

Through the Depuy Synthes Advantage Outpatient Solutions Program, DePuy Synthes Joint Reconstruction offers a comprehensive hip, knee, and shoulder portfolio of orthopedic surgical products alongside a suite of innovative education, training, and professional and patient support services designed specifically for outpatient settings. Education and team-based training covers patient selection and prep, operating procedures, pre- and post-op care, discharge management, patient monitoring, physical therapy and patient engagement. Since piloting the program, the team has trained more than 500 health care professionals.

Depuy Synthes Advantage Outpatient Solutions also includes subscription-based software called Caresense for data collection and analysis, and the Patient Athlete Program, a video-based patient empowerment program that utilizes similar science-based tools and techniques developed by the Johnson & Johnson Human Performance Institute for top athletes, surgeons and CEOs.      

“Outpatient surgery is evolving into another layer of our healthcare model where patients are now requesting these outpatient procedures that are more value based with the goals of better outcomes, less complications and faster recovery periods,” said Mark Gittins, D.O., New Albany Surgical Center, New Albany, Ohio. “In our Ambulatory Surgery Center we have implemented programs from Depuy Synthes Advantage such as Caresense, Patient Ambassador, and surgical tray optimization, which have helped to create additional efficiencies in our center and patients certainly benefit from this new era of care.”

Outpatient joint replacement is a growing trend driven by less-invasive surgical techniques, better pain management techniques, improved recovery and rehabilitation protocols, and patients who want to return home as soon as possible. However, experts say these outpatient procedures still represent a small percentage of the more than 1 million knee and hip replacements performed each year in the United States.

“We have an opportunity to support adoption of outpatient joint replacement through proven and comprehensive programs that go beyond the implant with the goals of improving clinical outcomes, increasing patient satisfaction and reducing costs,” said Zellner. “We expect more health care professionals will consider outpatient joint replacement as an important option for their patients, and we will be right there with them to provide the support they need to optimize outcomes.”