title: Early discharge after hip arthroplasty with home support: experience at a UK District General Hospital.
abstract: One hundred and thirty-eight consecutive patients undergoing hip arthroplasty and accelerated discharge at our institution over 6 months were reviewed. Our protocol included transfer to a dedicated home support team. No minimal incision techniques or special anaesthetic/analgesic techniques were used. 66% of patients having primary joint replacements went home by the third post operative day and 91% by the fourth day. Re-admission rates were under 1% whilst under the care of the home support team. Patient satisfaction was high. 94% said they would use the service again. This protocol has saved over 1500 bed days per year whilst maintaining standards of care.
authors.affiliation: Orthopaedic Department, Warwick Hospital, Warwick, UK. gethin2@hotmail.com
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Faisal
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Young
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Asson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ritson
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bawale
mesh_terms: D019644:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Hip / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D019645:Arthroplasty, Replacement, Knee / Q000191:economics / Q000534:rehabilitation* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017046:Cost Savings; D018575:Home Care Services, Hospital-Based / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006701:Home Nursing / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D010351:Patient Discharge / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data