Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are increasingly popular with surgeons and consumers. Outpatient procedures are rapidly becoming the preferred option for patients. This is especially true for candidates for joint arthroplasty, which has increased in ASCs by 84% since 2022.
With this growth comes certain challenges. ASCs must continue to balance patient care and outcomes with value and financial efficiency. ASCs can address all of these issues with better medical tray management. Surgical trays can be cumbersome and wasteful, but they also present an opportunity to optimize patient care, safety, and outcomes while also maximizing cost savings.
About Optimized Instrumentation Trays
As the healthcare system shifts toward value-based care, ASCs and surgeons need new ways to become more financially efficient while also providing excellent patient care. Surgical instrument tray optimization presents a unique opportunity to improve both of these areas.
In most total knee arthroplasty (TKA) procedures, surgeons use only 20% of the instruments opened in a tray. An optimized instrumentation tray reduces this waste and includes customizable elements that also improve patient safety.
QRS Trays in Outpatient Knee and Hip Arthroplasty
Maxx Ortho’s Quick Recovery Solutions (QRS) systems are designed for more efficient and safe joint arthroplasties by including:
- Optimized instrumentation
- Case planning to determine the implant size needed for each patient
- “Just-in-time” logistics to minimize storage needs
- Pre- and post-op resources for the patient and patient-reported outcome measures
Everything about the QRS system is designed for outpatient knee and hip arthroplasty. It allows surgeons to receive one tray per patient, with everything they need to perform safe, efficient procedures.
Benefits of Surgical Tray Optimization
The goals of QRS systems are to improve financial and surgical efficiency and the effectiveness of procedures for the best patient outcomes.
Improved Surgical Efficiency and Effectiveness
Providing patient value in the ASC setting means balancing safety and effectiveness with an efficient process that eliminates waste and saves on costs. For patient safety, surgical instrument tray optimization is key.
Maxx Ortho’s QRS systems begin with case planning to optimize the tray for each patient and procedure. Using X-ray-based, AI-driven technology, the system determines the optimal implant size range for the patient.
Improved Financial Efficiency
By planning each tray for individual patients, QRS systems are more efficient. They provide a more limited set of instruments and implants to reduce waste. Everything the surgeon needs is in one tray. Traditionally, surgeons open multiple trays and end up using fewer than half of the instruments that then must be disposed of or sterilized. Reducing surgical instruments is a proven way to significantly reduce costs in the OR.
The QRS system logistics also improves efficiency. The delivery time is maximized to reduce wait time between arrival and use. This eliminates the need for storage space within the ASC for multiple surgical trays.
Surgical instrument tray optimization significantly reduces the time needed for instrument staging and sterilization. With one tray optimized for each surgeon and patient, ASCs can increase velocity in the OR. This increases cost savings and adds value for the facility.
Integrating QRS Trays in the Outpatient Setting
An ASC providing an increasing number of joint arthroplasties can begin integrating optimized surgical tray setups in their operations right away. Choosing a provider like Maxx Ortho is the first step. The ASC can begin ordering customized and optimized trays for patients, even while continuing to use older inventory systems. As the QRS systems prove to save costs and improve efficiency, the value becomes clear.
Case Study
Real-life examples of surgeons using QRS systems illustrate the benefits they provide to ASCs and patients. Dr. Chad Hanson reported a case study involving a 71-year-old female patient with years of knee pain. As the pain began to interfere with her daily activities and more conservative treatments failed to yield adequate results, she was a candidate for a TKR.
Dr. Hanson used QRS templating to determine the size of the knee components. The patient was determined to be a size G femur and 7 tibia. Dr. Hanson received a QRS kit with size F, G, and H femoral modules to ensure the right sizing and fit.
The surgery proceeded normally, and Dr. Hanson was able to confirm the fit of the components with no need for adjustments and observed excellent patellar tracking. Patient outcomes in this case were outstanding. She had an uncomplicated procedure and reported no pain two months later with near full joint mobility. Dr. Hanson had everything he needed in the QRS system to provide a safe, effective experience for the patient and with less waste through central sterilization.
Contact Maxx Ortho today to learn more about the QRS system and how we can help you face the ongoing challenges of value-based care in an ASC setting.