Abbreviated Hospital Stay Optional for Patients

The popularity of same day surgery for joint replacement is growing.

Upstate University Hospital at Ononadaga, New York, announced that its patients will have the option of spending only a few hours in the hospital instead of an overnight stay for knee-replacement surgery.

The program is called the Swift Knee program, patients for knee-replacement surgery will have the option of spending a few hours in the hospital instead of an overnight stay.

Before they go home patients will meet with their medical team, including a physical therapist, to go over at-home physical-therapy responsibilities. Patients will begin walking on their new knees immediately after surgery, the spokesperson said.

Performing total knee-replacement surgery without a hospital stay is a “growing trend,” thanks to a decision by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to remove total knee arthroplasty from its list of inpatient-only procedures.

“We know there are patients who would much prefer to have this procedure done on an outpatient basis and avoid an overnight stay at the hospital,” said Timothy Damron, M.D. Upstate orthopedic surgeon, “Now, Upstate is giving them that option.”