Joint Replacements become the Latest Victim of Economic Downturn in the US

Just when you had thought that your health comes before anything else in the world and perhaps you would have never thought of delaying your Hip Replacement,comes the news that baby boomers in the US are increasingly putting off their orthopedic treatments , fearing that prolonged absence from work might make them more vulnerable to risking their job.

Dr. Scott Oliver, an orthopedic surgeon at Jordan Hospital in Plymouth, said his department had four orthopedic surgeries canceled just last week. He said one patient who canceled owns an air-conditioning business and was afraid to miss work. Another patient, who did have surgery, was told she risked losing her job if she didn’t return within six weeks, which was shorter than the recommended recovery period.

Doctor Scott Oliver, an orthopedic surgeon at Jordan Hospital in Plymouth, said his department had four orthopedic surgeries canceled just last week. He said one patient who canceled owns an air-conditioning business and was afraid to miss work. Another patient, who did have surgery, was told she risked losing her job if she didn’t return within six weeks, which was shorter than the recommended recovery period.

Across new Hospitals in the US overall volume is down 20 percent, and other surgeons are also reporting cancellations for these election procedure, especially at smaller hospitals. According to Massachusetts Hospital Association numbers, 59 percent of hospitals are reporting a decline in elective surgery for the quarter ending March 31. The MHA did not reveal any numbers for orthopedic surgery.

“There is definitely a palpable increase in concern over missing work and possibly losing a job,” said Dr. Daniel Snyder, an orthopedic surgeon at Newton-Wellesley Hospital. Traditional knee replacements can require long recovery periods of six to 12 week.

courtesy: Boston Business Journal