Decision aids helped to lower hip and knee surgery rates and costs

"In a large observational study, patients who received balanced information on the risks
and benefits of orthopedic procedures had 26 percent fewer hip replacement surgeries, 38 percent fewer knee replacement surgeries, and 12 percent to 21 percent lower costs over a six-month period."

Introducing decision aids at Group Health was linked to sharply lower hip and knee surgery rates and costsThe Commonwealth Fund
September 2012

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