12x12 Protocol
Designed for Orthopedic Hip & Knee Surgeons by Dr. Charlie DeCook
The Shared Challenge
When Minutes drift... Patients and Schedules feel it.
Every delay stretches staff, bends budgets, and leaves patients waiting in pain. 12×12 offers a field‑tested approach to reclaim those minutes—without rushing a single surgical step.
A practical protocol from a fellow hip‑and‑knee surgeon who learned—often the hard way—how to keep cases moving and team morale high.
Surgeon Shout-outs
Brian C. Fuller, M.D.
Despite a wealth of knowledge and surgical skills, the best thing about Dr. DeCook is how approachable and inquisitive he remains. His passion for efficiency is admirable, but his generosity and curiosity make him special. He has gone out of his way in an effort to help me on more than one occasion, and I hope I can return the favor some day.
W. Cody Grammer M.D.
A relentless innovator who has fought through the trap of OR inefficiency to create a new standard for recon surgeons. As a teacher, he is unafraid, straight forward and concise. Always willing to listen and very dedicated to improving joint replacement worldwide.
Christopher S. McClellan D.O.
Dr. DeCook is a no-nonsense communicator who gets to the heart of the matter quickly with a gift for making complex ideas feel simple and practical. His efficiency, common sense, and ability to speak my language make every interaction clear, valuable, and easy to implement in my orthopedic surgery center.
The Pain / Agitation Section
The Hidden Cost of “Just One More Delay”
Every extra minute between cases drains margins, fatigues staff, and forces patients to wait in pain. Yet most turnover “solutions” tackle symptoms, not the source. 12×12 flips the script: treat the OR like game‑time—and give every player a crystal‑clear role.
What Is the 12×12 Protocol?
Developed by Charlie DeCook, MD this free mini‑course shares the small, cumulative adjustments that let his OR finish 12 total joints by lunch—while maintaining infection rates and patient‑reported outcomes that match national best practice.
What's Inside
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Module 1 - Optimizing Surgical Efficiency: Achieve a 12x12 Benchmark
CourseTransform your operating room's productivity by learning to achieve impactful surgical goals. Adapt the 12x12 benchmark for your practice and enhance patient care.
Free
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Module 2 - Time Transparency & The Primary Constraint
CourseMost OR delays aren’t a mystery: they’re simply invisible until the clock exposes them. By treating the surgeon’s hands as the system’s heartbeat, we use simple, shared timers to anticipate gaps and redeploy help before they slow care.
Free
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Module 3 - Lean Flow & Parallel Tasking
CourseLean thinking isn’t faster‑for‑faster’s‑sake; it’s less friction so patients reach recovery sooner. Together we name the wastes (Muda, Mura, Muri), practice 5S organisation and rehearse safe parallel tasks that trim minutes without trimming vigilance
Free
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Module 4 - Continuous Improvement without the Jargon
CourseOperational excellence isn’t a moon‑shot project; it’s tiny, testable tweaks that compound into smoother mornings and calmer afternoons. We borrow what works from Six Sigma and the “5 Whys,” minus the corporate buzzwords.
Free
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Module 5 - Staffing & Culture of Shared Expectations
CourseAn orchestra doesn’t speed up by yelling “play faster.” It synchronizes on a clear score. Likewise, our OR culture rests on two expectations everyone can recite: safety first, on‑time always. Roles are defined, feedback is real‑time, and conflict is
Free
Charles A. DeCook M.D.
HIP AND KNEE REPLACEMENT SPECIALIST & ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON
Dr. Charles DeCook is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in knee and hip replacements. He sees patients at Total Joint Specialists' Cumming, Georgia, location.
Dr. DeCook has performed over 10,000 total joint replacements and 7,000 anterior hip replacements. He has revolutionized rapid recovery after joint replacement surgery and has helped create... (read more below)
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Click for Dr. DeCook Full Bio
Dr. Charles DeCook is a board-certified orthopedic surgeon who specializes in knee and hip replacements. He sees patients at Total Joint Specialists' Cumming, Georgia, location.
Dr. DeCook has performed over 10,000 total joint replacements and 7,000 anterior hip replacements. He has revolutionized rapid recovery after joint replacement surgery and has helped create and has ownership in Total Joint Specialists.
As a leader in hip and knee replacement surgery, Dr. DeCook works with industry partners to improve surgical techniques, design state-of-the-art implants, create new technologies and implement tools that lead to greater value for patients and healthcare. He travels extensively both nationally and internationally to teach and improve the technique of hip and knee replacements.
Several top honors have been given to Dr. DeCook recognizing his excellence in patient care. Most recently, he has received the Leaders in Joint Replacement award from Orthopedics Today, and he has also been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor in Atlanta each year from 2017 – 2023. He is also a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and the American Association of Hip and Knee Surgeons.
Dr. DeCook completed his medical degree at Rush Medical College. He then completed orthopedic surgery and family medicine residencies at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. He rounded out his medical training with a fellowship in adult reconstruction from the Anderson Orthopaedic Research Institute.
FAQ
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Is this really free?
Yes. Education first—if you love the results, we’ll talk advanced mastermind later.Address common questions ahead of time to save yourself an email.
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How long will it take?
Five videos. Each nine minutes or less. Finish over coffee breaks.
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Will it fit my hospital’s policies?
Absolutely—principles work in hospital ORs, ASCs, or hybrid suites.
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Do I need special software?
No. Templates are Excel/PDF; metrics use any EMR timestamps.
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Can I share with my PA or scrub team?
Please do—whole‑team alignment accelerates adoption.
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Is CME included?
Not for the free track; certificate of completion provided for credentialing portfolios.
Ready to own your morning OR?
Enroll Free – Watch the First Lesson Now
Join thousands of joint surgeons turning downtime into done‑time. Hit the button, grab your seat, and start operating at 12×12 speed today.