Background: The paradigm shift that has occurred for patients with total hip (THA) and knee (TKA) arthroplasty through enhanced recovery programs underscores the need for redesigning care provision.
Local problem: In this hospital, the patient outcomes and experience anticipated from the implementation of enhanced recovery medical protocols were not fully realized.
Methods: The Practice Development in Nursing and Healthcare model guided this project.
Interventions: A nurse-led team designed a new care delivery model with patient/family-centered interventions based on the best evidence.
Results: Outcomes included an increase in discharges of postoperative day 1 or less of 154% THA and 41.8% TKA and an increase in discharge to home by 24.6% THA and 18.7% TKA. In addition, 90-day readmissions were reduced for both patient groups.
Conclusions: An interprofessional team of clinicians made sustainable improvements in the experience and outcomes for the surgical patients with THA and TKA.