J&J's DePuy Synthes Launches Outpatient Joint Replacement Program

By Jof Enriquez,
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Johnson & Johnson's orthopedic business has launched a new joint replacement offering, called DePuy Synthes ADVANTAGE Outpatient Solutions, for ambulatory surgical centers (ASC) and other outpatient settings.

The program pairs DePuy's portfolio of hip, knee, and shoulder orthopedic surgical products with a suite of patient support services and medical provider education, under which some 500 health care professionals already have trained on patient selection and prep, operating procedures, pre- and post-op care, discharge management, patient monitoring, physical therapy, and patient engagement, according to J&J. The program also comes with the company's CareSense data analysis subscription, and the PATIENT ATHLETE Program, a video-based, self-guided program to help patients prepare for surgery and deal with post-op recovery.

“Outpatient joint replacement is an emerging option for healthy, motivated patients that may help them safely recover more quickly, and in the comfort of their own homes, instead of in the hospital,” said Scott Zellner, director, DePuy Synthes ADVANTAGE, in a press release. “When performed on the right patient, in the right setting, with trained staff, and leveraging innovative surgical techniques and implant technologies, these procedures have the potential to improve outcomes, speed recovery, manage costs, improve efficiency and increase patient satisfaction.”

“We expect more health care professionals will consider outpatient joint replacement as an important option for their patients, and we will be right there with them to provide the support they need to optimize outcomes,” Zellner added in the statement.

According to Becker's ASC Review, outpatient joint replacements are a growing trend in the United States as less invasive surgical techniques, better pain management, and updated recovery protocols are developed to return patients home as soon as possible.

"Outpatient surgery is evolving into another layer of our healthcare model where patients are now requesting these outpatient procedures that are more value based with the goals of better outcomes, less complications and faster recovery periods," said Mark Gittins, DO, New Albany (Ohio) Surgical Center, in the release.

J&J's DePuy Synthes leads the shoulder reconstructive market, holding over 20 percent of the market share, and remains one of the three leaders in the large joint restoration market, which includes hip and knee restorations. As populations live longer, demand for joint replacement surgeries is expected to climb, making it one of the largest markets for medical devices and implants. However, cost considerations are making manufacturers like DePuy lean more toward outpatient surgeries, especially as partner hospitals could be forced — starting next year — to perform hip and knee replacements at lower costs, or face penalties, due to a new bundling scheme by the U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).