The St. Rose Joint Replacement Centers Take a Team Approach
The St. Rose Dominican Hospitals Joint Replacement Centers are scoring high marks among patients who are up on their feet and enjoying active lifestyles after joint replacement surgery.
The programs use a team approach for rehabilitation that develop a real sense of camaraderie among patients in a group/team setting. Surgeries are scheduled so patients go through the rehabilitation process together. Because they are sharing the experience, patients tend to encourage one another thus reducing the average rehabilitation time.
Patients and family members who are well educated about a surgery tend to have less apprehension and thus do better during both surgery and rehabilitation. As such, the week prior to surgery, joint replacement patients and their families are invited to a get together with the Center's staff and other patients with whom they will go through rehabilitation. During the educational classes, questions from surgical schedules, pain management options, post-operative exercise and after-hospital care are covered to ensure the patients are well informed and prepared.
According to Cheryl Reister, Director of Medical/Surgical Services, "Over the past 10 years, there have been major advancements in joint replacement by making longer lasting replacement joints and developing simpler, less invasive surgery techniques. At St. Rose, we've gone a step further, adopting a model that asks patients what they need to feel more prepared for surgery and what would make their hospital stay and rehabilitation more comfortable."
St. Rose's orthopedic program is ranked as the number one in Nevada, according to HealthGrades, a leading independent provider of healthcare industry ratings. The ranking is based on surgical outcomes data as compared to other orthopedic programs in Nevada.
Distinguishing Program Characteristics
Wellness Approach - A wellness rather than an illness approach is taken at St. Rose. Joint replacement patients are not "sick" so the program does not treat them as such. Patients are free to wear comfortable clothing instead of traditional hospital gowns after surgery. Rehabilitation takes place in a supportive, group setting aimed at getting patients back on their feet and enjoying pain-free, active lifestyles.
Mentors - Joint Replacement patients are encouraged to have a family member or close friend participate as a mentor in their experience. In addition to being invited to pre-surgical education classes, mentors are given beepers so they can move freely about the hospital and be reached easily when a patient comes out of surgery. Each patient room features a couch or chair that converts to a single bed so that the mentor may stay overnight if they choose.
Daily Newsletters - While in the hospital, patients receive daily newsletter-style agendas - either Hip Tips or Knee News - that provide an agenda for the day and tips for a healthy recovery.
The Joint Replacement Centers are located at both the San Martín and Siena Campuses of St. Rose Dominican Hospitals. The surgical programs are covered by most insurance, including Medicare.
For more information about the program, please call 702.616.5854 at Siena or 702.616.8654 at San Martín, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
(Updated 5/15/08).
