We are seven
weeks into a new year and finally the latest wave of COVID-19 seems to be
subsiding. This optimistic news gives us hope of returning to a more normal
orthopedic practice. Our ambulatory surgery center opened in December 2021 and
is in full swing. We are excited about
the opportunity this provides for our patients.
As of this week, Valley Medical
Center returns to a normal surgery schedule allowing overnight-stay patients.
We have had to postpone a number of patients who require an overnight stay in
the hospital for several months. We are looking forward to helping these
patients get back on their feet and enjoying life.
Several developments
occurred over the last eight months. As I have previously noted, we received
the first total knee robot from DePuy Synthes, the Velys Robotically Assisted
Surgery System. We have done over 70 cases with the robot and have been very
impressed with the results. I've had the privilege of being a designing surgeon
for a new DePuy Synthes Hip System which will be available during the first
quarter of 2022.
The last two
years have represented a time of change and challenge, moments of fear and
opportunity. COVID accelerated the move to outpatient joint replacements. This
required us to improve the optimization of our patients so that a greater
number of these cases could be done as outpatient procedures. Currently,
approximately 70% of patients are being done as same day discharge going home
with the assistance of a partner, family member or friend. This trend will continue
as we improve our selection criteria, optimization, and work with patients and
caregivers to make joint replacement surgery even better in the coming year.