Spokane, Wash.-based Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists and Providence (Ore.) Orthopedics & Sports Medicine were featured in the Spokane Journal concerning their total joint replacement efforts.
Here's what you should know:
1. Physicians from both practices are improving the surgical process to reduce recovery times for patients.
2. Providence Orthopedics began using Stryker's Mako Robotic Arm System for full knee replacements, while also moving some of its full and partial joint replacement procedures to the outpatient space.
3. Providence purchased the device in 2014, but primarily used it for partial knee replacements. A recent upgrade made it viable for full knee replacements.
4. Providence starting moving knee replacement surgeries to its outpatient clinics following national trends. Jonathan Keeve, MD, of Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists said the group performs less than 10 percent of all knee surgeries outpatient, but he expects that percentage will increase because of the reduced cost of the procedure and a financial incentive for patients..