Hip replacement surgery, result quality

Profile of the key figure hip replacement surgery, result quality

• Time of data collection: 05.12.2016 - 02.04.2017
• Source: Hospital Comparison Switzerland (HCS), Result quality hip operation, survey of certified physiotherapists
• Direct link to the quality report (pdf)
• Department: Acute care

About the indicator «Hip replacement, result quality»

The independent association Hospital Comparison Switzerland performed a national survey of qualified physiotherapists with regard to the outcome quality in hip replacement surgery. Good outcome quality is defined as a rapid, significant and sustained functional improvement, the absence of avoidable complications and a high patient satisfaction with the hospital or clinic. With their feedback the physiotherapists provide their experience and expert knowledge to the public. Patients can benefit from this survey as a help for choosing a hospital or a clinic.

Strengths:

Physiotherapists often accompany patients with hip problems in different stages of their disease and also after surgery. They get particularly involved in case of complications or a delayed recovery, lead detailed discussions with the patients and thus learn a lot about the medical circumstances, the course of the surgery and the level of care in the hospital / clinic. Due to their in-depth knowledge and wide experience, physiotherapists can distinguish unavoidable complications from treatment deficiencies. Physiotherapists are in contact with many different health care providers and are thus able to observe and compare many hip replacements in different hospitals / clinics. Often being self-employed warrants the independence of their opinion.

Limits:

A poll on a voluntary basis will never be answered by all respondents, creating uncertainty about the representativeness of the sample. Part of the non-answering physiotherapist focus on other disciplines (such as pediatric physiotherapy or neurological rehabilitation) and therefore have little experience with hip replacement patients. Some physiotherapists are also employed in hospitals and clinics and thus, at best, they may have a conflict of interests.