Total Knee Arthroplasty in the Ambulatory Surgery Center Setting: Best Practices for Cost Containment and Clinical Care Delivery

Abstract

As the current population continues to increase in age, so does the degeneration of the musculoskeletal system and the development of knee osteoarthritis. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) will be the treatment of choice when it comes to improving physical function and decreasing pain associated with osteoarthritis of the knee. The global push for more cost-effective healthcare services has led to new models of care and payment delivery methods such as performing TKA in the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) setting. With deeply invasive surgical procedures such as TKA being done in the ASC setting, orthopaedic nurses must be mindful of best practices that will promote quality and safety while considering the importance of using current evidence to guide nursing practice when promoting appropriate patient selection and effective patient education of self-management of postoperative care pertaining to TKA being performed in the ASC setting. This is critical to consider during a time when financial profits in the ASC setting may take a front seat to the delivery of high-quality and safe patient care.