Dr. Pietro Memmo Shares Outpatient Innovation on International Stage
Orthopedic Associates of Hartford is proud to highlight the recent international engagement of Dr. Pietro Memmo, who was invited to speak in Italy on the evolution of outpatient orthopedic care in the United States. Throughout a multi-day visit, Dr. Memmo met with top healthcare leaders, including past and current Directors of Rizzoli, a globally respected institution often referred to as the “HSS of Italy.”
Dr. Memmo’s visit included high-level meetings with board members of the Regional Health System, orthopedic surgeons from Rizzoli, and leaders across the Emilia-Romagna region, including Bologna, Parma, and San Marino. His itinerary also included a featured lecture hosted by the Accademia Dei Semplici, attended by more than 80 physicians and orthopedists, as well as a special event at the historic Circolo Ufficiali, a 13th-century palace in Bologna known as Palazzo Grassi.
A Shared Vision for the Future of Orthopedic Surgery
Dr. Memmo’s central message: outpatient orthopedic surgery is not just the future, it’s already here. Speaking on behalf of OAH and the broader U.S. medical community, he detailed how procedures like joint replacements and spinal surgeries have shifted from traditional inpatient hospital settings to ambulatory surgical centers (ASCs), a transformation driven by better patient outcomes, lower complication rates, and significant system-wide efficiencies.
In 2022, just 9% of total joint replacement surgeries in the U.S. were performed in outpatient surgical centers. By 2026, that number is expected to rise to 51%, a remarkable shift. Just five years ago, a total knee replacement typically required a five-day hospital stay. Today, that same procedure often takes less than five hours, allowing patients to return home the same day with equal or improved outcomes.
“I explained that the operative day for a patient begins months before the surgery,” said Dr. Memmo. “At OAH, our patients are supported by nurse navigators, connected to their care teams through digital platforms like Force Therapeutics, and carefully screened to ensure outpatient safety. This model allows us to complete procedures in five hours instead of five days, with better results.”
OAH’s multiple AAAHC (Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care) accreditations, Leapfrog recognition, and data-driven approach to outcomes tracking have made its ASCs among the most highly regarded in the country. With 7,500 ambulatory surgery centers across the U.S., OAH stands out for its commitment to clinical excellence, patient-centered care, and innovation.
Cultural Exchange & Collaboration
A recurring theme throughout Dr. Memmo’s trip was international collaboration. Italian healthcare leaders expressed a strong interest in adapting outpatient care models but noted significant cultural and infrastructural barriers. Dr. Memmo’s presentations addressed these concerns with examples from OAH’s 20+ years of experience in outpatient surgery.
“Many of their current challenges mirror the ones we faced in the U.S. years ago,” he explained. “The shift to outpatient surgery is as much cultural as it is clinical. Physicians and patients alike must reframe what ‘safe surgery’ looks like.”
The potential for collaboration between OAH, Rizzoli, and institutions such as the Bone and Joint Health Institute (BJI) was discussed in detail, particularly regarding joint research projects and Patient-Reported Outcomes Measures (PROMs).
A Personal Full-Circle Moment
For Dr. Memmo, the trip had personal significance. Having lived in Bologna as a child while his mother underwent life-saving surgery, the return visit brought his journey full circle.
“Fifty years ago, Bologna’s healthcare system saved my mother’s life,” he shared in his opening remarks, delivered in Italian. “To come back as a physician now, and contribute to the dialogue on improving patient care, was incredibly meaningful.”
Dr. Memmo also participated in a 30-minute Italian television segment and a widely read Q&A published online in Italy that has already reached over 2,000 readers in its first month.
Orthopedic Associates of Hartford: Local Excellence, Global Reach
Dr. Memmo’s international engagement reflects OAH’s leadership in orthopedic care, not only in Connecticut but on a global stage. As countries worldwide explore the benefits of outpatient surgical care, OAH stands ready to share its experience, data, and patient-first philosophy.