Total Joint Replacement Program
Mobility is the cornerstone of independent living. Whether running errands or marathons, sometimes people take for granted the nerves and muscles and bones that make these actions possible. When mobility is limited through injury or disease a person realizes how integral our joints are to daily living.
The Total Joint Replacement Program at Virginia Hospital Center assists patients to regain mobility every day. Since 1996, more than 3,000 hip and knee joint replacements have been performed here. From diagnosis to discharge, the Total Joint Replacement Program offers a truly comprehensive approach to patient care, with an interdisciplinary team of experienced healthcare professionals and dedicated on-site rehabilitation facilities.
Virginia Hospital Center’s Total Joint Replacement Program was the first Total Joint Replacement Center in Northern Virginia designated as a Center of Excellence by Mid-Atlantic Medical Services, Inc., a regional holding company for healthcare organizations and insurers. This designation recognizes that the Joint Replacement Program meets stringent standards for high levels of patient satisfaction and for low rates of complications and readmissions.
You can be confident in knowing that the Total Joint Replacement Program is built on Virginia Hospital Center’s long history of superior orthopedic care. In addition to replacing hips and knees, Virginia Hospital Center also performs replacement of shoulder, elbow and other joints. The Hospital of choice for many local professional athletes, Virginia Hospital Center sets the standard for patient service and medical care in the Washington, DC metropolitan Area.
Comprehensive Care
The Total Joint Replacement Program takes an interdisciplinary approach to patient care. A team of skilled professionals—including orthopedic surgeons, anesthesiologists, specially-trained nurses, physical and occupational therapists and case managers—work together to develop and implement treatment plans for each patient.
Every patient’s treatment program actually begins four to six weeks before the joint replacement surgery takes place. After the surgery is scheduled, patients are contacted by the Pre-operative Screening Nurse and the Total Joint Replacement Case Manager. A physical therapist’s evaluation may be scheduled if indicated by the patient’s pre-operative functional status. This comprehensive pre-operative approach to patient assessment will help the team understand as much as possible about a patient’s medical condition, lifestyle, goals and expectations.
A monthly class is offered to give an overview of the Total Joint Replacement process. Members of the interdisciplinary team are present at the class to provide information and answer questions regarding the patient’s upcoming surgery. The classes include an introduction to the team and educational material about the joint replacement. Pre-operative screening and testing are available based on individual patient needs. Additionally, our team helps patients learn more about setting up for home recovery, the types of special equipment needed, and how to manage other health problems before surgery. To prevent complications, a physician and the team will talk with patients about anesthesia choices and any medications that are being taken.
Your pre-operative preparation may also include an at-home physical therapy program, breathing exercises and nutritional advice, to help you get in the best possible condition before surgery. Our Pre-operative Screening Nurse will also work with you to make sure all pre-operative tests and procedures are completed as needed.
From Surgery To Rehabilitation
Patients arrive at the Hospital on the morning of the procedure. Our Case Manager and the patient’s physician will discuss all the details well in advance, so patients know exactly where to go, what to do and what to expect.
Once surgery is complete, the Joint Replacement team steps in to maximize your comfort while also beginning rehabilitation and recovery. We provide a special cushioned air mattress to take patients from the operating room to the recovery room and on to the patient’s room, so they do not have to be lifted from one bed to another. Various types of specialized equipment, from foam wedges to cooling wraps, will be used as needed to keep patients as comfortable as possible. Every patient room has its own bathroom for convenience and privacy.
Most patients experience some pain following surgery. Prior to surgery, patients will be educated on pain management options and strategies to manage pain on their own. Our team of specially-trained nurses will regularly monitor pain levels and adjust medications as needed to manage discomfort. It’s encouraging to note that many joint replacement patients report that they suffer less discomfort after surgery than they did before the procedure.
Experience has shown that the sooner a patient begins to use a new hip or knee joint, the better their overall recovery will be. To help get a patient moving quickly and safely, the Total Joint Replacement Program has dedicated in-patient rehabilitation facilities on the Unit. Physical therapists will work with patients in the gym to assess their abilities and teach them exercises and movements designed to enhance recovery and protect new joints. In our specially-designed kitchen and bathroom, patients work with occupational therapists to learn techniques and use tools that will help them function independently and safely when cooking and caring for themselves at home.
At Virginia Hospital Center, our patients are in the capable hands of an interdisciplinary team. Patients can be assured that your physician, nurses, therapists and other caregivers are fully involved in tailoring the treatment program to the patient’s individual needs. The interdisciplinary team is kept informed of the patient’s progress as they move ahead with rehabilitation.
Heading Home
Most patients stay with us for three to four days after surgery. Patient education and patient participation are essential to a successful recovery and rehabilitation after a joint replacement. We always strive to send patients directly home after their in-patient stay. Age and overall health, as well as any physical barriers such as stairs in the home, and other factors may make it best for a patient to go to a residential rehabilitation facility before returning home.
These issues are among many that the Case Manager will discuss with patients and families as part of discharge planning. The process will begin before surgery. During a patient’s stay at the Hospital, we can change the plan as needed to ensure safety, security and recovery.
Before a patient goes home we will provide the equipment that may be needed—everything from a shoehorn to a hospital bed. Patients receive ample instruction in caring for themselves, moving around safely, how and when to do exercises, and much more. Working together and patient education are the cornerstones of our program.
Whether patients go home or to another facility, we follow up to make sure they are well on the road to recovery. And whenever a patient or their family has a question, the Case Manager can be contacted at 703.558.6659 for help.
Even though joint replacements are becoming more and more commonplace, choosing to undergo total joint replacement can be a big step. We understand—and we’ll be with you, every step of the way.