Paul Murgatroyd, 46, chose the short-stay option – only staying in hospital one night – following his right hip replacement in June.
The prospect of recovering in his own home at Allambie Heights, with his wife’s home cooking, three children and pet labrador was considerably more appealing than the bed, food and ambience a hospital would provide.
“It sounds a bit daunting at first that you’ll be coming home after a day in hospital,” Murgatroyd said. “But having done it, it makes a lot of sense.”
“I went home on crutches and had great support from the hospital… I could call at any time. A nurse visited to check up on me and a physiotherapist has come over once a week for six weeks,” he said.
Murgatroyd is planning to use the short-stay option again following his left hip replacement surgery next week.
Wilson said the short-stay model was not for everyone.
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He said patients with complex health needs and comorbidities will need longer hospital stays, “but when it is safe to do so, it’s highly regarded, effective and well-liked”.
“Another key driver was removing out-of-pocket costs,” Wilson said.
Hip or knee replacement patients pay on average $1,200 out of pocket, and are expected to pay $1,400 by 2030. Assuming 10 per cent of eligible patients opted for the short-stay program in 2023, they would save $10 million in out-of-pocket costs collectively or $34 million in 2030, the report projected.
The KPMG analysis found there was no significant difference in the probability of having a medical complication between the 284 patients in the short-stay program and patients receiving conventional care in hospital, echoing international studies.
Health and Aged Care program director at the Grattan Institute, Dr Stephen Duckett, said other insurers should follow suit.
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“The issue for the insurance industry is that consumers are juggling mortgages that are going up, who also want to buy lettuce and health insurance. Insurers want to keep insurance costs down and private hospitals want to maximize revenue,” Duckett said.
“A private hospital can increase revenue by offering rehabilitation, which might be two hours a day of physiotherapy… but the hospital is getting payment for the days you’re in a bed, plus the meals, the nurses, all those other elements.
“No wonder it’s more cost-effective to have those couple hours of physio at home,” Duckett said.
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