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Regional Orthopedic Center
Specialty Practice | Joint Replacement

41% fewer readmissions in 6 months

340 joint replacements
volume
41%
readmission Reduction
4.9/5
patient Satisfaction

Our patients actually use this. That's the difference. They open it because it helps them, not because we told them to.

Dr. Sarah Chen, Orthopedic Surgeon

The Challenge

Regional Orthopedic Center was experiencing a 23% 30-day readmission rate for joint replacements—significantly above the national benchmark of 4-5%. Patients were being discharged without adequate support, leading to complications, missed warning signs, and preventable ER visits. The small care coordination team was overwhelmed with phone calls from anxious patients and caregivers, often unable to distinguish urgent concerns from routine questions.

The Solution

Deployed Distal's recovery app for all joint replacement patients at discharge
Implemented AI-powered risk stratification to identify high-risk patients early
Provided condition-specific guides for patients and caregivers
Enabled real-time symptom tracking with automated escalation protocols
Created direct communication channels between patients and the care team

Implementation

Timeline: 6 months to full deployment

1
Phase 1 (Weeks 1-2)
Technical setup and clinical staff training on the platform
2
Phase 2 (Weeks 3-4)
Pilot with 50 total knee replacement patients
3
Phase 3 (Weeks 5-12)
Expanded to all hip and knee replacements
4
Phase 4 (Months 4-6)
Full deployment across all joint replacement procedures
6

months to full deployment

Results

13.6%
30-Day Readmission Rate
↓ 41%
4.9/5.0
Patient Satisfaction
↑ 28%
Reduced by 52%
Care Coordinator Calls
↓ 52%
87% daily app opens
Patient Engagement
↑ 87%
340 procedures
Annual Volume
Supported

What They Say

Our patients actually use this. That's the difference. They open it because it helps them, not because we told them to.

Dr. Sarah Chen
Orthopedic Surgeon

I can finally see what's happening with patients between visits. The alerts have caught several potential complications before they became emergencies.

Jessica Martinez, RN
Care Coordinator

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