What makes a “top” hip and knee replacement hospital?
According to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), it is a combination of low complication rates, high patient satisfaction scores and low prices.
We would add one more criteria. Experience.
It is well accepted (and supported by hospital discharge data) that high volume hip/knee replacement hospitals tend to have the lowest complication, revision and re-admittance rates.
But, if you want to get right to the good stuff, here is some of it—at least as it relates to the best hospitals in the United States for hip or knee replacement surgery.
A quick note about bias. This data is biased.
Since it is from CMS, it is weighted toward Medicare patients. Not all hospitals or doctors accept Medicare patients. Also, Medicare patients are not representative of the overall U.S. population. They are typically over 65 years old. They are more likely to be female. And they are more likely to have co-morbidities like diabetes or high blood pressure.
On the other hand, they are a nearly perfect demographic for hip and knee surgery. Arthritis runs rampant in this age cohort and the clear majority of hip and knee arthroplasties are performed on these patients.
So. It’s good data. It will uncover the top hospitals. It just won’t uncover ALL the top hospitals. Some worthy institutions are missing. And, please, don’t hesitate to let us know if we did miss a noteworthy addition to this list.
The 17 Top Hip/Knee Hospitals with Best Pricing
Hoag Orthopedic Institute: Irvine, California
Average Hip/Knee Payment by CMS: $20,998. 2,911 Cases Reviewed. Lower than average complications. Lower than average cost.
For the 14th consecutive year, Hoag has been chosen as the most preferred hospital by Orange County residents, and received National Research Corporation’s (NRC) Consumer Choice Award. Hoag scored above the national comparisons and ranked second out of 232 California hospitals in the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) Survey Patient Satisfaction Report.
Christiana Care Health Services: Wilmington, Delaware
Average Hip/Knee Payment by CMS: $20,193. 2,826 Cases Reviewed. Lower than average complications. Lower than average cost.
Christiana Care’s orthopedic care programs were awarded “Medical Excellence” designation by CareChex where it was ranked: The No. 3 hospital in the nation for major orthopedic surgery and No. 1 in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The No. 6 hospital in the nation for spinal fusion and No. 1 in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The No. 7 hospital in the nation for spinal surgery and No. 1 in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The No. 10 hospital in the nation for joint replacement care.
