Modern medicine has made many advancements that have allowed for the transition of joint replacements into same-day outpatient procedures instead of inpatient procedures that previously may have spent several nights in the hospital.
Benefits of Outpatient Joint Replacement (Total Shoulder Arthroplasty)
Safety
Outpatient shoulder replacement allows patients to avoid spending time in a hospital that may be more likely to have contagious infectious diseases. Research demonstrates the risks of surgery are the same both in the hospital and at an outpatient surgery center.
Cost
Avoiding an overnight stay significantly decreases the overall expense of treatment. Unfortunately at this time not all insurance plans allow their patients to have outpatient shoulder replacements. We are hopeful this will change in the near future
More comfortable recovery
Most patients are able to rest and recover in a more comfortable way in their own home. Improved sleep and avoiding middle of the night nursing checks is a big bonus.
Surgery Day
On the day of surgery, the patient will arrive approximately 1.5 hours prior to their scheduled procedure time. Final pre-operative preparation is completed and the procedure and recovery course is again reviewed. Time in the operating room is about 1.5 – 2 hours. After surgery, our excellent recovery room nurses will support the patients as they fully awaken from general anesthesia. After about an hour of observation, the patient is discharged home. One of the biggest benefits is being able to sleep in your own bed.
Is outpatient joint replacement for you?
While there are many benefits of outpatient joint replacement, it is important that safety is the priority and patients are screened to evaluate if they are a good candidate. Schedule an appointment today to discuss if outpatient shoulder replacement is a good option for you.
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