High Pointe Surgery Center, a multi-specialty ambulatory surgery center (ASC), located in Lake Elmo, MN, is celebrating their first ever outpatient knee replacement being completed at the center. The Center’s goal is to deliver an exceptional care experience that is uniquely tailored to the patient’s needs. High Pointe was able to deliver on this promise when they performed their first outpatient knee replacement. High Pointe has partnered with St. Croix Orthopaedics to develop an outpatient joint program in an
environment tailored to the patient’s needs; at the same time, reducing the overall cost for the patient and health care system.
Outpatient joint replacement is exactly like the traditional joint replacement, except for a few differences in care after surgery. The two main differences include the patient being released home in the first 24 hours after surgery versus the traditional inpatient
hospital stay of 2-3 days and a shorter-acting anesthesia being used during surgery. Certain criteria must be met for a person to be considered for an outpatient joint replacement:
- Good overall health.
- High level of motivation to participate in rehabilitation and to go home following surgery.
- A good support system at home.
Mark Dahl, M.D. was the first physician to perform this procedure at High Pointe. Dr. Dahl commented,
The team of physicians and staff at High Pointe and St. Croix Orthopaedics, P.A. has spent many hours developing a program that will exceed patient expectations and assure positive outcomes. In addition to the quality care that we will deliver, patients will also experience lower out-of-pocket costs by having their procedure performed in an outpatient environment.
The Ambulatory Surgery Center Advocacy Committee estimates ambulatory surgery centers save Medicare $2,000,000,000 (2 billion) annually by providing low-cost services. By shifting just half of all eligible outpatient surgeries to the ASC setting, Medicare could save an additional $2,300,000,000 (2.3 billion) annually. ASC’s save Medicare beneficiaries an average of 56 percent on their coinsurance. High Pointe Surgery Center is no different.
