Joint replacement and case management in indigent hospitalized patients.

More than 260,000 total joint replacements are performed every year in the United States. The University of New Mexico Hospital is a publicly held hospital that provides healthcare to many patients who are uninsured and indigent. More than 200 joint replacement surgeries are performed every year at University Hospital, Albuquerque, NM, resulting in an average length of stay of 5.7 days and other patient outcomes. The average cost ranges from $18,000 to $22,000 per procedure, with a reimbursement rate of 61%. Nursing care of these patients can be a challenge and an orthopaedic nurse case manager can effect positive patient outcomes.