The nurse navigator or case manager drives the keys to successful outcomes for a TJR: careful patient selection, education and planning.
While a nurse navigator or case manager should be responsible for developing the care plan, many ASCs don’t have either one. If yours doesn’t, consider assigning these responsibilities to someone already at your facility. An ideal candidate would be someone already familiar pre- and post-op areas of care.
The nurse navigator starts the planning process by evaluating the patient’s home environment and capacity for understanding and following protocols. Does the patient live in a multi-level home? Is there easy access to the bathroom and bedroom? Does the patient have supportive caregivers or is a home health agency needed?
To learn more about how Cardinal Health can support your facility as it enters the total joint space, visit our Surgery Center Orthopedics page.