The Efficacy of Pre-Operative Home Visits for Total Hip Replacement Clients

Abstract

Background. There is increasing realization among health care administrative decision makers and service providers that we must measure the true value of expensive services by demonstrating the achievement of identified goals. Purpose. The objective of this study was to determine whether clients who received the home-based intervention for a hip arthroplasty would result in a more timely discharge home from hospital. Method. Two hundred and eight clients receiving a total hip replacement at two acute care hospitals comprised the sample. One hospital included the more costly home-based pre-operative teaching by an occupational therapist as part of its protocol while the other provided comparative occupational therapy intervention within its hospital based pre-admission clinic. Discharge disposition and length of hospital stay were measured. Results. Though no significant difference in either of these outcomes was found, a number of issues were raised indicating the complexity of resource allocation to this client population and the importance of the qualitative dimensions of care. Practice Implications. The location for pre-operative teaching for total hip replacements was not found to impact the length of hospital stay nor whether clients are discharged directly home.