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Current Trends in Discharge Disposition and Post-discharge Care After Total Joint Arthroplasty

  • Quality and Cost Control in TJA (B Waddell, section editor)
  • Published:
Current Reviews in Musculoskeletal Medicine Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this manuscript is to review published literature over the last 5 years to assess recent trends and influencing factors regarding discharge disposition and post-discharge care following total joint arthroplasty. We evaluated instruments proposed to predict a patient’s discharge disposition and summarize reports investigating the safety in sending more patients home by reviewing complications and readmission rates.

Recent Findings

Current literature supports decreased length of hospital stay and increased discharge to home with cost savings and stable readmission rates.

Summary

Surgeons with defined clinical pathways and those who shape patient expectations may more effectively control costs than those without defined pathways. Further research is needed analyzing best practices in care coordination, managing patient expectations, and cost-effective analysis of home discharge while at the same time ensuring patient outcomes are optimized following total joint arthroplasty.

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References

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. 81st MDG Orthopedic Surgery, Building 468 Room 1B340, 301 Fisher Street, Keesler AFB, Biloxi, MS, 39534, USA

    T. David Tarity & Marion M. Swall

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  1. T. David Tarity
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Correspondence to T. David Tarity.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Quality and Cost Control in TJA

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Tarity, T.D., Swall, M.M. Current Trends in Discharge Disposition and Post-discharge Care After Total Joint Arthroplasty. Curr Rev Musculoskelet Med 10, 397–403 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12178-017-9422-7

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