Pandemic accelerates trend for outpatient procedures at ambulatory surgery centers
Submitted by Lauren Miller
May 28, 2021

Knoxville Orthopaedic Surgery Center joint replacements
on target to increase 45 percent in 2021

The pandemic accelerated an already increasing trend of people seeking outpatient procedures at an ambulatory surgery center rather than a hospital setting, and the Knoxville Orthopaedic Surgery Center is on target to increase total joint replacements by approximately 45 percent in 2021 compared to the previous year.

Ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) are high quality healthcare facilities that provide outpatient procedures. Knoxville Orthopaedic Surgery Center (KOSC) is an ASC accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) and utilized by the surgeons of Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic (KOC) since 2010. KOC is a division of OrthoTennessee.

Located on the Fort Sanders West campus, KOSC is conveniently situated adjacent to the KOC west office. Over the past decade, the orthopaedic-only ambulatory surgery center has experienced growth in outpatient procedures of more than 244 percent for surgeries, total joint replacements and interventional spine procedures. During 2020, KOC performed more than 50 percent of the group’s orthopaedic surgeries at KOSC.

The increases follow a national trend of patients turning to specialized ambulatory surgery centers, such as KOSC, for outpatient procedures. The centers provide benefits that include safe, high-quality care, lower costs and the convenience of recuperating outside a medical setting.

The pandemic continues to cause an increase in outpatient procedures as patients seek ways to minimize time in a general health facility. Hospitals also shifted to scheduling more outpatient procedures as well to keep space available for COVID-19 patients and emergency procedures.

“The COVID-19 pandemic has opened greater opportunities for patients needing outpatient procedures through ambulatory care centers,” said Douglas N. Calhoun, M.D., hand surgeon and medical director of KOSC. “KOSC provides specialized care and safe, comfortable and efficient options for orthopaedic surgery and procedures, and we thank the community for entrusting us to serve them.”

Frances Carpenter of Morristown recently had a total knee replacement at Knoxville Orthopaedic Surgery Center performed by J. Christopher Sherrell, M.D., joint replacement surgeon at Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic.

“This is my third joint replacement by Dr. Sherrell,” Carpenter said. “The first two were in a hospital setting and this time, after talking with Dr. Sherrell and weighing the benefits, I chose to go to KOSC. I’m so glad I did. Every part of my experience from the time I arrived until discharge was easy and pleasant. They explain everything and have abundant, caring staff. It is a special place. If I have another surgery, it will be there.”

Knoxville Orthopaedic Surgery Center provides comprehensive surgical care across a spectrum of specialties, including total joint replacements for the hip, knee and shoulder; hand and foot procedures; and the treatment of spine and sports injuries.

For more information, visit www.kosc.com.

About OrthoTennessee/Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic OrthoTennessee is the region’s largest provider of orthopaedic care and services, with more than 250,000 patient visits annually at 10 East Tennessee locations.

One of four physician group divisions of OrthoTennessee, Knoxville Orthopaedic Clinic (KOC) includes 31 physicians and has provided comprehensive subspecialized orthopaedic care in Knoxville and the surrounding counties for over 75 years. Entrusted with the care of injured University of Tennessee athletes, KOC has been the orthopaedic surgeons for the Vols since 1949. For more information, please visit www.kocortho.com and www.orthotn.com.