Contact & Location
337-721-7236
Lake Charles, LA 70605
Dr. Hays performs more shoulder replacement procedures than 48% of orthopedic surgeons in Louisiana, based on 2024 Medicare claims volume.Derived from the state ranking shown on this page: #13 of 25 ranked shoulder surgeons in Louisiana.
About Dr. Hays
Practice. Dr. Claire Hays is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon practicing in Lake Charles, Louisiana. The latest annual CMS data records 20 shoulder replacements. That is #13 in Louisiana for shoulder replacement. A Medicare provider since 2019.
Trend. Dr. Hays first appears in the Medicare data in 2024. With 1 year on record, the trend is still short.
National context. Among 2,217 shoulder replacement surgeons tracked nationally, 20 procedures is below the national average of 29. Medicare covers part of all joint replacements, so true volume is likely higher.
Local context. Lake Charles has 11 orthopedic surgeons in the current Medicare data. Comparing volume and procedure mix across them is one way to narrow a shortlist. Dr. Hays also holds hospital privileges in LA and OH, a practice that extends beyond Louisiana.
Verified Case Volume
Verified Medicare data is available for 1 year: 20 procedures in the most recent reporting year. A multi-year trend chart is shown once at least 3 years of data are available.
Verified Medicare Cases
How is this estimated?
Medicare Part B fee-for-service claims are one payer stream among several, and the share they represent differs by procedure. In 2024 it was 29% to 37% for shoulder replacement. Each verified count above is divided by its own procedure's range, and the results are added, to estimate total practice volume across all payers. The verified Medicare count is the definitive, audited figure; this is a range derived from published national volume projections, not a measurement, and an individual practice can sit well outside it: how these ranges are derived, and their sources.
How Dr. Hays Compares
Procedure volume compared to the Louisiana state average.
Hospital Affiliations & Quality
Quality ratings and complication rates are hospital-level metrics from CMS Hospital Compare and do not reflect individual surgeon performance. Star ratings updated quarterly. Complication data covers a rolling 3-year period.
Patient Resources: Preparing for Shoulder Replacement
If you are considering shoulder replacement surgery, these evidence-based guides can help you prepare and recover:
A practical checklist of questions covering experience, technique, hospital choice, and recovery expectations to discuss during your surgical consultation.
Rehabilitation Roadmap: Your Complete Recovery GuideA structured physical therapy progression from the first post-op exercises through full strength and mobility restoration over 3 to 6 months.
Outpatient Joint Replacement: A Medicare GuideHow outpatient joint replacement works under Medicare, including eligibility criteria, cost differences, and what to expect with same-day discharge.
Shoulder Replacement Recovery Overview
Recovery timelines vary by patient, but here is a general overview of what to expect after shoulder replacement surgery:
Individual recovery varies based on overall health, age, and adherence to physical therapy. View full shoulder replacement recovery guide and product recommendations
Frequently Asked Questions About Dr. Hays
How does Dr. Hays's procedure volume compare to other Louisiana surgeons?
Dr. Hays has performed 20 Medicare-verified joint replacement procedures. The Louisiana average is 54 procedures per surgeon. Medicare data captures roughly one-third of all joint replacements, so total volume may be higher. Dr. Hays ranks #79 out of 104 orthopedic surgeons in Louisiana.
What types of joint replacement does Dr. Hays perform?
Dr. Hays's reported Medicare volume is focused on shoulder replacement, with 20 verified procedures. Some surgeons choose to concentrate on a single joint type to build deep procedural expertise.
How experienced is Dr. Hays with shoulder replacement surgery?
Dr. Hays ranks #13 in Louisiana for shoulder replacement with 20 Medicare-verified procedures. This high ranking among 104 state surgeons indicates significant experience with this specific procedure.
Are there other orthopedic surgeons near Dr. Hays in Lake Charles?
Yes. There are 11 orthopedic surgeons in Lake Charles in the current Medicare dataset. Patients can compare procedure volumes and specializations to choose the surgeon who best fits their needs. Use the state page to view all Louisiana surgeons.
What does the Medicare data for Dr. Hays represent?
The procedure counts shown are based on 2024 Medicare Part B fee-for-service claims data, published by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Medicare fee-for-service is only one payer stream, and the share of national volume it represents differs by procedure. In 2024 the share was 29% to 37% for shoulder replacement, which puts Dr. Hays's total volume across all insurers at roughly 50 to 70 procedures against the 20 verified here. Those shares are derived from published national volume projections rather than quoted from a single publication, and they are estimates with real uncertainty. The OrthoProcedures methodology page shows the full derivation, the sources, and the limits at orthoprocedures.com/data-methodology.html.
Which hospitals is Dr. Hays affiliated with?
According to CMS facility affiliation data, Dr. Hays is affiliated with Christus Ochsner St Patrick Hospital, Cleveland Clinic. Dr. Hays maintains hospital privileges across state lines, indicating a practice that serves patients in multiple states.
How does Dr. Hays compare to other orthopedic surgeons in Lake Charles?
Among the 11 orthopedic surgeons in Lake Charles, Dr. Hays ranks #9 by total Medicare procedure volume. The highest-volume surgeon in Lake Charles has 106 verified Medicare procedures.
What are the quality ratings for hospitals where Dr. Hays practices?
Christus Ochsner St Patrick Hospital (4 out of 5 CMS stars, insufficient case volume for complication rate comparison); Cleveland Clinic (5 out of 5 CMS stars, hip/knee complication rate similar to national average). These are hospital-level quality metrics from CMS Hospital Compare and do not reflect individual surgeon outcomes.
Other Orthopedic Surgeons in Lake Charles, Louisiana
Dr. Hays's 20 Medicare procedures are below the Lake Charles average of 67. The table below compares verified procedure volumes for orthopedic surgeons practicing in Lake Charles.
| Surgeon | Procedures | Specialties |
|---|---|---|
| Dr. Steven Hale | 106 | Hip, Knee |
| Dr. Nathan Cohen | 87 | Hip, Knee |
| Dr. Michael Garitty | 84 | Hip, Knee |
| Dr. Jonathan Foret | 75 | Knee |
| Dr. Charles Hansen | 57 | Hip, Knee |
| Dr. George Trappey | 37 | Shoulder |
Patient Resources & Verification
Research reviews, verify credentials, and check official quality data through these trusted sources:
Medicare Care Compare and NPI Registry are official U.S. government sources. Google reviews reflect user-submitted feedback. OrthoProcedures.com does not verify the accuracy of third-party review content.