Increasing the Volume of Outpatient Total Joint Arthroplasty Procedures: An Evaluation of a Novel Rapid Recovery Pathway Program Within an Academic Medical Center

Abstract

Background: There has been a national trend toward shifting joint arthroplasty procedures to the outpatient setting. These cases are often performed in freestanding ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), which are often not accessible to surgeons within academic practices. Purposes: We sought to investigate a novel rapid recovery program used to transition arthroplasty patients to an outpatient-based care system within an academic medical center. Methods: All patients undergoing hip or knee arthroplasty between November 2019 and April 2021 were retrospectively evaluated for their eligibility for a rapid recovery pathway through the Extended Stay Unit (ESU) based on clinical and social criteria. Once admitted, patients were evaluated for whether they were discharged from the unit or if hospital admission was necessary. Results: Out of the 444 patients deemed candidates for the rapid recovery program, 188 patients were admitted to the ESU (42.3%); 18 (9.6%) required inpatient hospital admission, with the majority of these due to failing physical therapy (16; 88.9%). Of the ESU patients who were successfully discharged home, 55 (32.4%) were discharged on postoperative day (POD) 0 and 115 (67.6%) on POD 1 (<23 hours). Conclusion: As total joint arthroplasties shift toward the outpatient setting, surgeons in academic institutions must employ strategies to increase their volume of patient candidates for outpatient procedures. Our retrospective study of prospectively collected data suggests the feasibility of creating a separate rapid recovery unit within the hospital that can be an effective method by which to eventually transition to the ASC setting.