title: Opportunities for control of hospital costs for total joint arthroplasty after initial cost containment.
abstract: Financial analysis of 391 joint replacement operations performed during 1996 determined that almost 80% of the hospital cost for joint replacement procedures was generated in the operating room, nursing units, recovery room, and pharmacy during the first 48 hours of hospitalization. Attempts to control or reduce the hospital cost of joint replacement operations should focus on these specific areas of opportunity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Lahey Clinic Medical Center, Burlington, MA 01805, USA.
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Iorio
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Richards
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lucchesi
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000191:economics*; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000191:economics*; D003363:Cost Control; D003953:Diagnosis-Related Groups / Q000191:economics; D017721:Hospital Costs / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006757:Hospital Units / Q000191:economics; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts; D016344:Medicare Part A; D014481:United States