Stryker Coaches Hospitals for CJR Risks

Stryker Corporation introduced JointCOACH at its 9th Annual Orthopedic & Spine Summit in Chicago on April 27, 2016.

With this introduction, Stryker is attempting to help hospitals across the country navigate Medicare’s new five-year Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) payment model for hip and knee replacements that holds them financially responsible for the total cost of the entire replacement episode.

This digital patient engagement and navigation platform is being offered to more than 270 hospitals that have implemented care redesign programs for joint replacement patients. The announcement specifically mentions the new Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) CJR payment model moving from fee-for-service to pay-for-performance standards. Hospitals are assuming higher risk of unintended patient outcomes in exchange for higher payments if quality standards are met. Stryker’s platform can help those hospitals make sure care protocols are being followed to minimize rehospitalizations and adverse outcomes.

“This new platform should play a big part in helping our hospital customers manage a patient’s entire episode of care through CJR and voluntary payment bundles for 90 days and beyond, ” says Stuart Simpson, vice president and general manager of Stryker’s Reconstructive Division. “It represents another example of how Stryker is helping to facilitate the customers understanding of the shift to value-based care.”

The company says JointCOACH is a web-based communication platform that enables joint replacement patients to communicate by computer or smart phone with their hospital care team during the entire episode of care, from the time surgery is scheduled until at least 90 days after discharge from the hospital. “Pre-op preparation, clinical protocols, information about medications and pain control, recovery and rehabilitation activities are delivered at key time intervals to patients during their journey, with a series of questionnaires and surveys to help insure they are involved and engaged in their care plan and experiencing a successful recovery.”

JointCOACH is being offered by Stryker’s Reconstructive Division’s Performance Solutions (PS) business division.

PS has been partnering with hospitals and physician practices since 2009 to, hopefully, “improve clinical outcomes, patient satisfaction profitability through a meaningful, risk-sharing partnership.” The program establishes common goals, expectations and metrics with providers and hospitals and works as an intermediary to create “formal and informal arrangements, ” to reduce the cost of care.