Experienced orthopedic surgeons
More than 400 joint replacement surgeries were performed at The Washington
Hospital in 2006. Ten orthopedic surgeons offer these procedures at The
Washington Hospital.
Pre-operative
education class for you and a coach
This class will help you prepare for surgery, hospitalization and
rehabilitation. Topics covered include what to expect before and after
surgery; what to bring to the hospital; how caregivers can help; what to
expect after you leave the hospital; and more.
Unique pain
management program
Your doctor and the Joint Center staff will work with you to determine the
best pain management program. When your pain is under control, you are able
to get more rest and participate better in your therapy sessions. The Joint
Center offers several different pain management and relaxation techniques to
help you through the post-operative period, including aromatherapy, massage
therapy, music therapy, hydrotherapy and femoral nerve blocks. The
continuous femoral nerve block is used with patients having a single knee
replacement. It uses a non-narcotic medication to control the pain in your
operative knee. The Washington Hospital is the only community hospital in
southwestern Pennsylvania to offer the continuous femoral nerve block.
Aggressive
physical and occupational therapy
Your therapy will be tailored to meet your individual needs. Your
therapist(s) will work with you to determine what you are capable of doing.
You will have four to five sessions of physical and occupational therapy
each day. These sessions include both individual and group activities. If
needed, more time will be devoted to your individual sessions. After
discharge, if additional outpatient physical therapy is needed, our
therapists located at the Wilfred R. Cameron Wellness Center are especially
attuned to the needs of the joint replacement patient.
Quality
patient outcomes
Upon discharge, most patients are able to walk at least 1,500 feet
without assistance. And 78 percent of patients are discharged to home.
Ninety-seven percent of patients reported being satisfied or very satisfied
with their Joint Center experience. Post-surgery infection rate is well
below the national average.
Coordinated
care
Our surgeons and the hospital work together to ensure that your
pre-operative testing and teaching is accomplished in a smooth manner that
keeps your trips to a minimum. Also, your primary care physician at The
Washington Hospital is kept well informed of your progress by the surgeon.
