Patient care does not immediately end for orthopedic surgeons after exiting the operating room.
While the surgery itself is the crux of the process, several other factors, including pre- and post-operative care, play into how well a patient will recover.
And that care is becoming easier, as surgeons have more resources to track the patient recovery process outside of their offices, one surgeon told Becker’s.
Ask Orthopedic Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to orthopedic surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. Becker’s invites all orthopedic surgeon and specialist responses.
Next question: What is one clinical protocol you’ve changed recently that made a big difference in patient outcomes?
Please send responses to Claire Wallace at cwallace@beckershealthcare.com by 5 p.m. CDT Friday, May 23.
Editor’s note: Responses have been lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: Are you currently using remote monitoring or digital tools for postoperative care? Why or why not?
James Chen, MD. Orthopedic Surgeon at DISC Sports & Spine Center (Newport Beach, Calif.): All of my patients undergoing hip or knee replacement are enrolled in the Mymobility virtual care assistant program. The program provides pre- and postoperative patient information, exercises and recovery tracking. Other technology features add to the value of the program with smart implants such as the Persona IQ and ROSA robotics. These features monitor patient data to guide recovery and provide analytics to help me take better care of my patients remotely and in person.
