A paper presented by Kevin Bozic at the Knee Society on March 13, 2010, as part of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons Annual Meeting, reviewed the relationship between surgeon and hospital volumes and clinical outcomes, as well as adherence to standardized processes and the influence all of these have on results. It was found that higher surgeon volume was associated with a lower risk of complications, readmissions, shorter length of stay, and a greater likelihood to be discharged home after joint replacement surgery.
Adherence to evidence-based process standardization resulted in improved clinical outcomes and shorter lengths of stay.
At The Joint Center at Valley Medical Center, we are fortunate to combine high surgeon volumes, high procedure volumes in the hospital, and standardization of clinical pathways, all of which help to improve patient outcomes and give us a lower than national average risk of infection and other major complications after total hip and knee replacement. As part of the increasing transparency that I think is important in the delivery of healthcare, I will outline the number of cases I have done and my complication rates for total hip and knee replacement so that patients can review this data as part of their information gathering prior to possible surgical intervention.
I am expecting to have a total knee replacement within the next few years. I have damage in all 3 compartments of my knee partly due to a previous surgery (1977, moved patellar tendon medially to prevent patellar dislocation). I feel that i need to find a surgeon/hospital that has worked on similar cases (therefore high volume). Can you suggest how I can find some in the Pacific Northwest? Thank you – Diane Cornelius.
Hello Dr. Barrett,
I remmeber well how fast your team gets patients out of the Hospital. Especially for cases like me who want to stay for fear of the unknown Ha.!
Having cirrhosis at the time and chronic hep c i was worried more than usual allthough most fears where i must admit cautiously self fabricated.
It has been over 15 months since the surgery and i am healing and walking just fine thanks to your great surgical work. I have not been in to see you as money is very tight and i am still fighting the liver disease. With the knee replacement it has increased my overall exercise and therefore i believe slowed the progression of the Hep c.
You where right that i would be thanking you in a year or so. Thank you so much for your hard work and someday soon hopefully i will be able to God willing come and see you in a office visit. Good articles and take care
All the best
Daniel
Dear Diane,
Ask surgeons how many they perform per year, our’s will be on my blog soon.
Regard,
William Barrett
Hello Dr. Barrett,
I was wondering what can be done for me, I am 59 and the RT hip is shot, degenerative arthritis, I have been around for a long time and am an Orthotist.
I am very active and would like to stay that way. My friend has a Birmingham procedure and is now very active. It seems to me the less invasive the better. I am 190lbs, 6 feet tall and otherwise in good condition.
What should I do?
Dave H