Get to work faster with BAAS care pathway

Imagine this: you are getting a knee replacement and must return to work afterwards. An exciting prospect, with many questions running through your mind. When can I start again? How do I go about it? Who is going to help me with that?

Nij Smellinghe Hospital is introducing an innovative approach: the BAAS care pathway (Back At Work After Surgery). Here, work is not only central after rehabilitation, but even before surgery. All those involved - from physiotherapist to company doctor - work together from day one to prepare the patient optimally and help him or her return to work as quickly and responsibly as possible.

Why this new approach?

The reality speaks for itself: the number of patients opting for knee replacement will triple between 2005 and 2030, with working people as the fastest-growing patient group. The traditional approach, in which work is only addressed after rehabilitation, no longer matches this trend.

How does the BAAS care pathway work?

What is special about this approach is that work is included even before surgery. An occupational expert maps out the work situation, and five weeks after surgery, all those involved meet online: the patient, company doctor, occupational expert, physical therapist and hospital. This early collaboration allows employers to make timely adjustments that facilitate a return to work.

"By putting all heads at one table, everyone is looking in the same direction. That makes for smooth cooperation with only one goal: getting the patient back to work successfully." said Daniel Strijbos, physical therapist, research & innovation program manager and BAAS doctoral student.

From paper comic to digital Divi

"Until now, we worked with an informational comic strip to educate patients. But we noticed that patients need even clearer expectations. When will I hear what? Who will contact me when?

Therefore, together with Indiveo, we developed a Divi that clearly depicts the entire process. From pre-operative screening to work resumption. No more surprises, but clear expectations about every contact moment." 

More than just return to work

The first research results of the BAAS care pathway are now coming in and are promising: patients start work significantly earlier and return to work fully sooner. "Work is more than just a job - it's about participating again, mattering in society. By integrating work directly into rehabilitation, we make the way back not only shorter, but also clearer for patients, the employer and all care providers involved," says Daniel Strijbos.

💡 Curious about these and other Divis? Check them out in the Divi Library.

🔗 Want to know more about BAAS Care Pathway? Check out Nij Smellinghe's website.