Distance and resources in vulnerable populations: understanding access barriers to outpatient shoulder arthroplasty

Abstract

BackgroundOutpatient shoulder arthroplasty is advantageous in appropriately selected patients, and tools for performing selection are available. Whether vulnerable populations benefit from outpatient surgery despite being appropriate candidates clinically is unclear. We hypothesized that patient travel distance and resource level impact the ability to complete accelerated care pathways. MethodsA retrospective cohort of patients undergoing anatomic/reverse total shoulder arthroplasty at 2 geographically diverse, high-volume tertiary referral centers was created; 5406 cases were stratified into cohorts based on travel distance (0-49, 50-99, 100-150, and >150 miles). Sociodemographic, median income, and comorbidity data were collected. Short inpatient stay was utilized as a proxy for appropriateness for same-day discharge. Overall length of stay (LOS) and unplanned 90-day readmissions were collected as secondary outcomes. ResultsFour thousand one hundred one patients traveled 0-49 miles, 695 traveled 50-99 miles, 313 traveled 100-149 miles, and 297 traveled >150 miles for shoulder arthroplasty. Few significant differences in sociodemographic/comorbidity burdens were observed between distance cohorts. Increased distance outside of the immediate area (>50 miles) was significantly associated with decreased likelihood of short inpatient stay (P < .001) and increased LOS (P = .027) for Institution #1. For Institution #2, those in the shortest and longest distance groups had the shortest LOS (P = .018). Overall, patients living <50 miles had the highest income levels. A bi-modal income distribution was observed for Institution #1, while income decreased as distance increased for Institution #2. Unplanned 90-day readmission rates were not significantly different for either institution. DiscussionOverall, when examining demographic variables for the entire cohort representing both institutions, patient travel distance to a high-volume tertiary orthopedic center did not appear to be the primary driver for variability in early postoperative outcomes (ie, 90-day readmissions, short stay, LOS). For Institution 1, patients living further from surgery centers underwent short inpatient stay at lower rates relative to those nearby. Importantly, lower resource levels were seen as distance increased for both institutions, potentially limiting the ability to manage same-day discharge without additional assistance despite being clinically appropriate candidates for outpatient arthroplasty. Therefore, providing overnight lodging options and perioperative support for vulnerable populations may minimize disparities in access, while serving as a lower-cost-option.