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The last two-plus years have seen major orthopaedic OEMs launch or bolster services that help providers address challenges associated with achieving reproducible, total “episode of care” patient outcomes.
One example is Smith & Nephew’s (SNN) eCap Episode of Care Assurance Program. SNN recently announced observations showing a 97.3% decrease in hospital readmissions following total joint arthroplasties (TJAs) performed under the program. Specifically, over 14 months, 1,380 TJAs were conducted with eCap partner Provider PPI, with only two readmissions—a rate of 0.145%, vs. rates of 5.3% or more published in 2013.
“As healthcare systems move from fee for service to pay for value, healthcare providers are increasingly responsible for the episode of care for the patient,” said Glenn Warner, President of Smith & Nephew U.S. “eCAP can help enable providers to reduce costly readmissions after TJA by adding class-leading wound care products to help manage surgical incisions.”
In 3Q16, U.S. health and wellness organization Provider PPI adopted SNN’s eCAP initiative that is designed to mitigate risk associated with readmissions in value-based healthcare reimbursement models. Since then, eCAP has been established at 16 facilities in U.S.
Working with Provider PPI, eCAP pairs all SNN primary total hip and knee reconstructive systems with PICO™ Single Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy and ACTICOAT™ Flex 7 Silver-coated Antimicrobial Barrier Dressing. SNN warrants the performance of its primary total knees and hips, PICO Single Use Negative Pressure Wound Therapy System and ACTICOAT Flex 7 to perform as expected.
If a patient is readmitted within 90 days following a procedure for a surgical site infection or for implant revision due to product failure, SNN will pay a hospital’s unreimbursed costs for the readmission up to the purchase prices of the implant, PICO and ACTICOAT Flex 7.
According to ORTHOWORLD estimates, SNN is the third-largest joint reconstruction company, deriving more than $1.6 billion or ~49% of its revenue from the segment.
Rob Meyer is ORTHOWORLD’s Senior Editor.
