Method. Under a per-case DRG system a shorter stay does not raise the case revenue. A freed bed-day therefore has value in two ways only: it is refilled with an additional elective case (contribution margin of that case), or it is not refilled and saves the costs that actually vary with the day. The model shows both, plus avoided cancellations and avoided surgical site infections. Every value can be changed under “Adjust advanced assumptions”.
Defaults. Primary total knee replacement, G-DRG I44C (2026 catalogue): relative weight 1.531, mean length of stay 6.4 days, nursing revenue €184.15 per day (federal base rate 2026 €4,570.64) · length-of-stay reduction 0.75 days · 50 % of freed days refilled at €2,500 margin per additional case · €150 avoided cost per empty bed-day · cancellations avoided 1.5 % of cases, 90 theatre minutes each at €12 · surgical site infections avoided 0.2 percentage points at €15,000 each. Margin per additional case, refill share and cost per empty day are model assumptions, not published figures.
Sources. DRG values: InEK G-DRG catalogue 2026 via reimbursement.INFO (I44C). Cancellation rates of 5.0 % (medium and small hospitals) to 12.4 % (university hospitals): Schuster et al., Anesthesia & Analgesia 2011. Theatre personnel cost per minute: Hierl et al., Die Unfallchirurgie 2025. Surgical site infections after knee arthroplasty: 0.6 per 100 procedures in the EU, 0.4 in Germany (ECDC, Surveillance of surgical site infections 2018–2020). Shorter length of stay without a higher readmission rate under fast-track concepts: Die Chirurgie, Springer, 2021.
Germany. Readmissions for complications within the upper trim point are merged into the original case (§ 2 FPV 2026); the hospital carries most of that cost. Additional cases above the agreed volume are subject to deductions (§ 4 KHEntgG), and as the volume-independent standby payment under the hospital reform takes effect from 2028, the value of an additional case falls further. Funding from the Hospital Transformation Fund is possible only as part of an eligible project and is not included in this calculation.
Other markets. Reimbursement differs between countries. Where hospitals work within global or capped budgets, a freed bed-day is worth capacity, shorter waiting lists and avoided cost rather than revenue.
Important. The effect of fast-track and ERAS protocols is evidence for the protocol, not for myoncare. myoncare supports their adoption through preparation, criteria-based discharge and digitally supported follow-up. Worked example only, no guarantee of a treatment outcome and no statement about any individual case. The clinical decision always rests with your care team.