A new study published in the Journal of Arthroplasty examines how perioperative communication through a mobile phone affects total joint replacement outcomes.
Study authors examined care for 34 patients who enrolled in the study, with 30 patients in the experimental group and 26 in the control group. During surgery for the experimental group, clinicians used automated mobile phone messaging designed to better coordinate care while performing total joint replacements.
Study authors found:
1. The patients who received perioperative communications via mobile phone were more likely to have a "good" understanding of their responsibilities in achieving a healthy outcome. The experimental group was also more likely to report feeling their care team demonstrated shared decision-making.
2. Around 87 percent of the patients said they felt messages helped them prepare better for surgery and 100 percent felt better informed.
3. Almost all, 97 percent, of the patients said they would participate in a surgical episode with automated mobile phone messaging again.
4. Study authors suggest the automated mobile phone messaging system is easy to integrate into the practice and can help total joint replacement surgeons as well as case managers more effectively communicate with patients. The heightened communication will be especially important as hospitals and health systems transition to value-based care.