Data from a research study published in the Journal of the AAOS suggests that for certain orthopaedic procedures, day surgery at an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) may be more cost effective than the same surgery performed in the hospital.
The researchers analyzed data from 1,021 surgical cases covering eight procedures:
- Shoulder stabilization
- Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction
- Meniscal repair
- Osteochondritis dissecans fixation
- Osteochondritis dissecans drilling
- Chondroplasty
- Loose body removal
- Meniscectomy
For seven of the eight procedures, the researchers found that direct cost savings at the ASC ranged from 17 percent to 43 percent. They write that 80 percent of the cost savings was attributed to time reduction and 20 percent was attributed to supply utilization. Of the time savings in the operating room, 73 percent was attributed to surgical factors and 27 percent was attributed to anesthesia factors. Learn more...
