Is a shortened length of stay and increased rate of discharge to home associated with a low readmission rate and cost-effectiveness after primary total knee arthroplasty?

ABSTRACT:

Background

It is controversial whether shortening the average length of hospital stay and increasing discharge from a rehabilitation facility to home with either health care or outpatient physical therapy is safe and cost-effective.

Methods

We computed the average length of hospital stay; the rate of discharge to a rehabilitation facility, home with health care, or home with outpatient physical therapy; the all-cause readmission rate within 30 days of discharge per year; and cost savings for 2328 consecutive patients treated with a unilateral primary total knee replacement between 2009 and 2014.

Results

The average length of hospital stay per year shortened from 2.0 to 1.3 days (P < .0001); the rate of discharge per year to a rehabilitation facility decreased from 41%

SUBMITTER: Barad SJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5859789 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature