High-Quality Hip and Knee Replacement Outcomes

UPMC is committed to delivering high-quality orthopaedic surgical care. This is based on a combination of highly skilled doctors, nurses, and other health care providers; state-of-the-art facilities and technology; and a commitment to delivering the right care, to the right patient, every time.

Quality reflects how well we take care of our patients, measured by patient outcomes - which simply means the results of treatment or surgery. We actively review and respond to these outcomes.

Our Model

UPMC participates in the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR) model. This quality and bundled payment program for hip and knee replacement is intended to encourage hospitals, physicians, and post-acute care providers to work together to improve the coordination of care from hospitalization through the 90 days of recovery. By purposeful design, our patients receive the best practices in care: improved transitions, outcomes, and experiences while improving system sustainability through cost management. The CJR hospitals include UPMC East, UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, UPMC Passavant, UPMC Presbyterian Shadyside and UPMC St. Margaret.

In addition, these hospitals are designated by the UPMC Health Plan as Centers of Orthopaedic Excellence.

UPMC Health Plan Hip and Knee Joint Replacement Surgery Center of Excellence

The UPMC Health Plan Hip and Knee Joint Replacement Surgery Center of Excellence program recognizes surgical facilities and orthopaedic surgeons that demonstrate high-quality outcomes, low complication rates, and best patient experience for Health Plan members. Orthopaedic surgeons and hospitals in this program have established patient-centric, evidence-based care pathways as well as an outcomes-based quality improvement program. Both hospitals and orthopaedic surgeons must demonstrate a high level of performance that results in an optimal patient experience throughout the entire care process—from presurgical consultation to postsurgical recovery and return to a functional lifestyle.

UPMC contributes to the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR), the world’s largest registry of hip and knee replacement data. The data collection and analysis support evidence-based decision making for our physician and patients. Maintaining the highest standards of orthopaedic surgery care and patient outcomes is a top priority.