GRAND RAPIDS, MI., March 26, 2018 – Dr. Robert DeMaagd, MD and Dr. Thomas Matelic, MD of Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan have successfully performed the first Same-Day Outpatient Total Joint Replacements in an ambulatory surgery center in the Grand Rapids region. Since October, 2017, Dr. DeMaagd and Dr. Matelic have treated nearly a dozen patients needing total hip or total knee replacement surgery at Metro Heath OAM Surgery Center.
Outpatient total joint replacement at Metro Health OAM Surgery Center is a true, same-day procedure. Patients arrive as early as 6am at the facility, and are back in their homes resting comfortably by dinner time.
“We developed this outpatient joint replacement program in order to enhance patient comfort and safety, while reducing costs for patients and their insurers. Our patients are all pleased that we are attaining this,” said Dr. DeMaagd.
The facility utilizes a “concierge” approach in caring for their outpatient total joint patients. All patients receive an in-home visit and assessment several weeks prior to their surgery day. Patients select a family member or close friend to be their “coach” throughout the process. Both the patient and the coach attend a personalized Outpatient Total Joint Education Class once the in-home visit has been completed. The class provides the patient and coach with all of the information they need regarding their outpatient total joint surgery, and includes a tour of the facility, meeting the anesthesia care team, as well as the nursing staff who will care for them.
Patients receive customized and individualized 1:1 nursing care while undergoing outpatient total joint replacement surgery at Metro Health OAM Surgery Center. They are provided a spacious private bay with windows for their recovery, and order a lunch of their choice from a local deli/restaurant.
Once the patient is discharged, care continues with frequent follow-up phone calls, office visits and physical therapy designed to get patients back to enjoying an active life as quickly as possible.
“While not all patients are candidates for outpatient total joint replacement, it is a great option for a percentage of our patients that are relatively healthy and motivated. With the help of nurses and therapists that visit the patients in their home, and with our own nurse case managers we can provide excellent care that is safe and avoids the high costs of a hospital procedure with excellent results,” said Dr. Matelic.
Metro Health OAM Surgery Center is a free-standing outpatient surgical facility licensed by the State of Michigan, certified by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS), and accredited by the Accreditation Association of Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).
AAAHC Accreditation distinguishes this surgical center from many other outpatient facilities by providing the highest quality of care to its patients as determined by an independent, external process of evaluation.