The Implementation of Lean Six Sigma Principles to Improve the Value of Care Delivery for Total Joint Arthroplasty Patients: The Perioperative Institute of Surgical Excellence Experience.

BACKGROUND: With the projected increase in the volume of total joint arthroplasty (TJA), minimizing variations in surgery times, hospital length of stay (LOS), discharge dispositions, and inhospital complication rates would help reduce costs and improve the quality of care. As the move toward bundle payment models gains further traction, providers will be reimbursed based on the quality and cost associated with the surgical episode. As such, it remains critical to design and implement high-quality cost-effective perioperative delivery care models. Lean Six Sigma (LSS) methodology has been well described in the healthcare field as a superior strategy in designing processes aimed at reducing waste while minimizing error rates. We present an institutional experience with the design and implementation of a LSS quality improvement process specific to the TJA pathway, with a hypothesis of expected decrease in case cancellation rate, inhospital LOS, 30-day readmissions, and inpatient rehabilitation utilization after program implementation. METHODS: In 2017, the Perioperative Institute of Surgical Excellence (PISE) program for lower limb TJA was designed and implemented at our institution over a 4-month duration. The program was designed following LSS principles as a low-cost easily adoptable model with a goal to reduce hospital LOS, case cancellation rate, 30-day readmissions, and inpatient rehabilitation utilization. RESULTS: A total of 328 patients (128 total hip arthroplasty and 200 total knee arthroplasty) were included in PISE compared with a total of 255 patients (106 total hip arthroplasty and 149 total knee arthroplasty) for the preimplementation cohort. After implementation of the model, and compared with a similar 4-month preimplementation duration, the pilot results revealed an increase in monthly case load by 28.6%, decrease in the 30-day readmission rate by 1.16%, inpatient rehabilitation utilization by 60%, a reduction of the average LOS by 0.8 days, and a case cancellations decrease by 51%. CONCLUSION: The implementation of the pilot protocol for PISE within our institution was successful in decreasing LOS, inpatient rehabilitation utilization, 30-day readmission, and case cancellation. Further assessment is needed to ascertain sustainability of the protocol over a longer duration and generalizability of the results at different institutions and surgeons.

Massive right atrial tamponade early after coronary artery bypass grafting.

If unrecognized, tamponade after coronary artery bypass grafting can be fatal. We describe a 63-year-old man who developed unexplained hypotension and tachycardia and was found to have severe compression of the right atrial cavity by a large hematoma in the pericardial sac.

Outpatient Total Knee Arthroplasty: Are We There Yet? (Part 1).

Recent trends in total joint care have moved toward outpatient surgery. Total knee arthroplasty (TKA) remains a definitive management for end-stage osteoarthritis and has experienced increased utilization over the past several decades. The method by which surgeons conduct outpatient total knee procedures has yet to be fully elucidated as different institutions report different experiences from their pathways. This article will discuss current data and recommendations for implementing successful TKA and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty outpatient protocols. Specifically, this review will provide information regarding cost reduction, patient selection criteria, and preoperative medical optimization.

Total Hip Arthroplasty in the Outpatient Setting: What You Need to Know (Part 1).

The method by which surgeons conduct outpatient total hip arthroplasty (THA) procedures has yet to be fully standardized. Careful examination of components involved in the preoperative phase of outpatient hip arthroplasty procedures may lead to improved outcomes. This article will discuss methods for implementing successful outpatient THA protocols. Specifically it reviews information regarding patient selection criteria, preoperative education, and preoperative medical optimization.

Total Hip Arthroplasty in the Outpatient Setting: What You Need to Know (Part 2).

The intra- and postoperative phases of outpatient total hip arthroplasty (THA) vary by institution and surgeon. An understanding of an evidence-based approach to enhancing the intra- and postoperative phases of the care continuum is warranted to offer high-value care to outpatient candidates. This article will discuss methods for implementing successful outpatient THA protocols. Specifically it reviews information regarding anesthesia and analgesia modalities, intraoperative considerations, and postoperative rehabilitation amenable to outpatient THA.

Impact of Outpatient Total Joint Replacement on Postoperative Outcomes.

Total joint arthroplasty (TJA) has demonstrated tremendous benefits to patients with osteoarthritis. Health care reform has influenced surgeons to optimize TJA care pathways as well as playing a role in the formation of outpatient TJA protocols. Understanding the outcomes of outpatient TJA is imperative to surgical predicate decision making. The aim of this review is to compare outcomes of outpatient TJA patients to standard-stay inpatients. Postoperative outcomes assessed include pain, complications, readmissions, reoperation, patient satisfaction, and cost.

Outpatient Total Knee Arthroplasty: Are We There Yet? (Part 2).

The method by which surgeons conduct outpatient total knee procedures has yet to be fully elucidated. Literature demonstrates different experiences from various care protocols in place across the nation. This article reviews current recommendations for implementing successful total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and unicompartmental knee arthroplasty outpatient protocols. Specifically, information regarding anesthesia and analgesia modalities, perioperative care, operative technique, and postoperative care within outpatient TKA pathways is discussed.

A Novel Process Audit for Standardized Perioperative Handoff Protocols.

A perioperative handoff protocol provides a standardized delivery of communication during a handoff that occurs from the operating room to the postanestheisa care unit or ICU. The protocol's success is dependent, in part, on its continued proper use over time. A novel process audit was developed to help ensure that a perioperative handoff protocol is used accurately and appropriately over time. The Audit Observation Form is used for the Audit Phase of the process audit, while the Audit Averages Form is used for the Data Analysis Phase. Employing minimal resources and using quantitative methods, the process audit provides the necessary means to evaluate the proper execution of any perioperative handoff protocol.

Workplace Romance Can Be Sexual Harassment: Time to Mandate Preventive and Protective Sensitivity Training.

Sensitivity training for workplace romance (WPR) and sexual harassment (SHM) across workplaces should be mandated because this knowledge may protect employees and employers by preventing workplace romanticism-sexism.

RESIDENT IMPLEMENTATION OF THE 2007 ACC/AHA GUIDELINES ON PREOPERATIVE CARDIAC EVALUATION IN NON-CARDIAC SURGERY PATIENTS: IS CLINICAL EXPERIENCE ENOUGH?

BACKGROUND: Preoperative evaluation of surgical patients is important, as perioperative complications are associated with increased mortality. Specialties including anesthesiology, internal medicine, cardiology, and surgery are involved in the evaluation and management of these patients. This institutional study investigated the residents' knowledge of the 2007 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) guidelines on perioperative evaluation of patients undergoing non-cardiac surgery. METHODS: This pilot study used a web-based survey questionnaire to assess resident's knowledge of the 2007 ACC/AHA guidelines through individual steps and corresponding branch point(s) in twelve clinical scenarios. Additionally, residents were asked if they were aware of, or if they had received lectures on ACC/AHA guidelines. Staff anesthesiologists with training in cardiac and intensive care medicine validated the scenarios. RESULTS: A total of 104 resident participants were surveyed including 35 anesthesiology residents, 41 internal medicine residents, 20 surgery residents, and 8 cardiology fellows. Awareness of the 2007 ACC/AHA guidelines by specialty was: anesthesiology (85%), internal medicine (97.6%), cardiology (100%), and surgery (70%). Only 54.3% of anesthesiology, 31.7% of internal medicine, 100% of cardiology, and 10% of surgery residents stated they received lectures. The overall mean score achieved on the eleven scenarios was 50.4% for anesthesiology, 47.0% for internal medicine, 55.7% for cardiology, and 42.3% for surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Although the majority of residents were aware of the 2007 ACC/AHA guidelines, fewer received lectures and regardless of specialty, implementation of these guidelines was poor. There exists significant room for improvement in the understanding of preoperative assessment of non-cardiac surgery patients.

CONSUMPTION TRENDS OF RESCUE ANTI-PSYCHOTICS FOR DELIRIUM IN INTENSIVE CARE UNITS (ICU DELIRIUM) SHOW INFLUENCE OF CORRESPONDING LUNAR PHASE CYCLES: A RETROSPECTIVE AUDIT STUDY FROM ACADEMIC UNIVERSITY HOSPITAL IN THE UNITED STATES.

BACKGROUND: The etiology of delirium in intensive care units (ICU) is usually multi-factorial. There is common "myth" that lunar phases affect human body especially human brains (and minds). OBJECTIVE: In the absence of any pre-existing studies in ICU patients, the current retrospective study was planned to investigate whether lunar phases play any role in ICU delirium by assessing if lunar phases correlate with prevalence of ICU delirium as judged by the corresponding consumptions of rescue anti-psychotics used for delirium in ICU. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After institutional review board approval with waived consent, the daily census of ICU patients from the administrative records was accessed at an academic university's Non-Cancer Hospital in a Metropolitan City of United States. Thereafter, the ICU pharmacy's electronic database was accessed to obtain data on the use of haloperidol and quetiapine over the two time periods for patients aged 18 years or above. Subsequently the data was analyzed for whether the consumption of haloperidol or quetiapine followed any trends corresponding to the lunar phase cycles. RESULTS: A total of 5382 pharmacy records of haloperidol equivalent administrations were analyzed for this study. The cumulative prevalence of incidents of haloperidol equivalent administrations peaked around the full moon period and troughed around the new moon period. As compared to male patients, female patients followed much more uniform trends of haloperidol equivalent administrations' incidents which peaked around the full moon period and troughed around the new moon period. Further sub-analysis of 70-lunar cycles across the various solar months of the total 68-month study period revealed that haloperidol equivalent administrations' incidents peaked around the full moon periods during the months of November-December and around the new moon periods during the month of July which all are interestingly the major holiday months (a potential confounding factor) in the United States. CONCLUSION: Consumption trends of rescue anti-psychotics for ICU delirium revealed an influence by lunar phase cycles particularly that of full moon periods on female patients in the ICU.

Unusual case of contralateral Horner's syndrome following stellate-ganglion block: a case report and review of the literature.

Stellate-ganglion block (SGB) is a commonly performed procedure for the treatment of numerous conditions, including upper-extremity complex regional pain syndromes and arterial insufficiency. The appropriate response to SGB includes ipsilateral Horner's syndrome and temperature elevation of affected extremity. Contralateral and bilateral Horner's syndrome following SGB are rarely seen, with only six prior cases reported. We describe a case of a 47-year-old female with right-hand pain secondary to Raynaud's phenomenon who underwent SGB with subsequent contralateral Horner's syndrome and review the literature of this rare phenomenon.

Bundle branch block patterns, age, renal dysfunction, and heart failure mortality.

BACKGROUND: The determinants of bundle block patterns and their relationship to mortality in heart failure patients is not completely understood. METHODS: We evaluated 2907 consecutive patients admitted to an intensive care unit with decompensated heart failure over 8 years. Clinical and echocardiographic factors were analyzed using multivariate techniques. All-cause mortality was available on greater than 99.0% of patients at a median of 23 months after discharge. RESULTS: Right and left bundle branch blocks occurred in 211 (7.3%) and 386 (13.2%), p<0.0001. Older age, decreased left ventricular ejection fraction, and renal dysfunction were all found to be independently associated with bundle branch block patterns. Mortality rates for the subgroups of QRS<120 ms, right bundle branch block and left bundle branch block, over a mean follow-up of 23.4+/-2.6 months were 46.1%, 56.8% and 57.7%, p<0.0001 for comparison of QRS<120 ms versus either bundle pattern. Cox proportional hazards model adjusting for age, sex, ejection fraction, and renal function demonstrated graded decrements in survival in those with QRS<120 ms, right bundle branch block and left bundle branch block, p=0.03. CONCLUSIONS: In patients hospitalized with severe heart failure, age, left ventricular dysfunction, and renal dysfunction are associated with bundle branch block patterns. When controlling for these factors, bundle branch block patterns are independently associated with slightly higher all cause mortality after discharge.