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- Talk
- 20/09/2023
- UK
Short Stay Arthroplasty - Optimizing Patient Flow Pathways
Description
In this presentation, Al-Amin Kassam discusses the challenges and successes of the Southwest Ambulatory Orthopedic Centre (SWAOC), emphasizing its establishment to tackle the backlog of orthopedic surgeries exacerbated by the pandemic. The centre serves several hospitals in Devon, focusing on reducing waiting lists which had reportedly become the worst in the country during the pandemic. Kassam highlights the clinical team's efforts, including contributions from various surgeons and his co-leads, Mary Stocker and Jonathan Howell.
The SWAOC has achieved remarkable outcomes, performing over 1,000 total hip and knee arthroplasties with a significant percentage of day-case surgeries. The presentation covers the efficiency gained through standardized protocols and patient pathways, which have drastically lowered the length of hospital stays and minimized readmission rates.
Kassam explains that the focus of the SWAOC is not on changing individual surgical techniques but rather on streamlining processes for the entire surgical pathway from pre-assessment through post-operative care to discharge. The talk emphasizes the importance of consistency, standardized pre-operative medications, and nurse-led patient mobilization to enhance recovery times. Kassam outlines the structured approach to patient selection, emphasizing that complex cases are handled without compromising care.
Overall, SWAOC's performance reflects a commitment to high-quality patient care and operational efficiency, achieving low cancellation and readmission rates while maintaining clinical standards comparable to the national averages.