Total joint arthroplasty: tips for improving efficiency.

Total joint arthroplasty is a very successful procedure that alleviates pain in arthritic patients. However, our current healthcare delivery system may not be able to provide the value of arthroplasty to match the demand in our increasing arthritic population. Increasing hospital efficiency and value for patients needing total joint replacement will bring this pain-relieving procedure to more patients with benefits to surgeons and hospitals. This article reviews segments in the knee arthroplasty pathway that will provide efficiency and value when they are optimized.