Patient Experience & Satisfaction in Outpatient Total Joint Arthroplasty: Recent Findings from OSET

For orthopedic leaders and clinicians interested in optimizing outpatient joint arthroplasty care, this study provides timely, evidence-based insights into patient satisfaction across care settings.

As the U.S. population ages, the demand for elective orthopedic procedures like total hip arthroplasty (THA) and total knee arthroplasty (TKA) continues to rise. These procedures are now more commonly performed in outpatient settings—including hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs) and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs)—due to advances in surgical techniques and evolving reimbursement models. While clinical safety and effectiveness of outpatient total joint arthroplasty (TJA) are well established, understanding patient experience and satisfaction in these care settings is critical for healthcare providers striving to deliver comprehensive, patient-centered care.

Evaluating Patient Satisfaction in Outpatient Total Joint Arthroplasty

A recent retrospective study, presented at the Orthopedic Summit (OSET), examined patient satisfaction after TJA performed in ASCs versus HOPDs. The research analyzed over 2,000 patients treated by a single surgeon between 2020 and 2025, utilizing a validated patient-reported satisfaction survey administered at 3 months, 1 year, and 2 years post-surgery.

The four key patient experience metrics evaluated included:

1. Satisfaction that surgical results met expectations
2. Willingness to recommend the surgeon to others
3. Timeliness of care team responses after discharge
4. Postoperative pain compared to patient expectations

Key Results from the Study on Outpatient Joint Replacement

Enhanced Patient Satisfaction in Ambulatory Surgery Centers for Total Hip Arthroplasty

Patients undergoing total hip arthroplasty in ASCs reported significantly higher satisfaction in responsiveness of their care team and pain outcomes at 3 months post-surgery compared to HOPD patients. Moreover, ASC patients were more likely to recommend their surgeon at both 3 months and 1 year.

Comparable Satisfaction Between ASCs and HOPDs for Total Knee Arthroplasty

For TKA, patients at ASCs demonstrated better perceptions of care team responsiveness; however, there were no significant differences in overall surgical satisfaction, recommendation likelihood, or pain outcomes compared to HOPD patients.

Key Data Summary

• Satisfaction that Surgical Results Met Expectations:
  THA and TKA patients reported similar satisfaction across ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) and hospital outpatient departments (HOPDs).
• Willingness to Recommend the Surgeon:
  Patients undergoing THA at ASCs were more likely to recommend their surgeon at 3 months and 1 year compared to those at HOPDs. No notable differences were seen for total knee arthroplasty patients.
• Timeliness of Care Team Responses:
  ASC patients reported higher satisfaction with the timeliness of care team responses to post-discharge questions, with a statistically significant difference for both hip and knee arthroplasty patients. This difference was more notable following total hip procedures.
• Postoperative Pain Compared to Expectations:
  THA patients treated at ASCs reported better-than-expected pain control at 3 months post-surgery. No significant pain differences were observed between settings for TKA patients.

What This Means for Orthopedic Providers and Patients

These findings reinforce ambulatory surgery centers’ role in delivering not only clinically effective but also highly satisfying patient experiences for outpatient joint arthroplasty — particularly total hip replacements. Orthopedic practices and health systems can leverage this evidence in strategic planning, marketing, and enhancing patient acquisition efforts.

About the Research and Authors

This study was led by Dr. Kirk Reichard of Northwest Orthopaedic Specialists (NWOS) with contributions from Dr. Rebekah Kleinsmith, Dr. Jessica Jewell, Dr. Harsh Parikh and Michelle Steege. The research was supported by the CODE Registry Data, which provided comprehensive patient-reported outcome data to power the analysis.