Be Joint Smart

A total, integrated team approach to your care.

Everyone knows that no one person by himself or herself makes a team. Championship teams win by playing as teams. And so it is with us. But in this case, you are the winner. You benefit from a total, integrated team approach to your care. That’s because, at The Joint Replacement Center, we plan and coordinate the care you receive from all experts and specialists from day one. You don’t have to worry about a thing – except showing up. And we can even help you with that, if you need transportation or special assistance getting from where you are to where you need to go.  

You’ll be well-briefed and well-prepared at “Be Joint Smart.”

What we call “Be Joint Smart” is a unique feature of The Joint Replacement Center. Going to “Be Joint Smart” is a lot like learning to be an effective Boy Scout or Girl Scout, where “being prepared” for any adventure is absolutely essential.

The preparation focuses exclusively on you, and on your pending total hip or knee replacement surgery. Before you even meet with your surgeon, you are properly informed about all aspects of the surgery, including what you can expect before, during, and after.

You will be armed and equipped with all of the tools you need to obtain the best possible results from your surgery. Much of this consists of education, but it may also include medications, supports for walking, and referrals to other medical professionals. Your relationship with your surgeon and with the supporting cast of medical experts is absolutely critical to the entire process.

You’ll have your own nurse coordinator from day one. This person will be your primary point of contact and advocate throughout the entire process before, during, and after surgery — even after discharge from the hospital. This person will contact you by letter (or phone) to arrange an appointment for you at the Joint Replacement Center. This letter will inform you completely as to what you can expect when you come to “Be Joint Smart”. You will be asked to fill out a questionnaire to help us serve you better. You will be properly informed at each step along the way.

You will be asked to have a “coach” or “mentor” with you during your first meeting at The Joint Replacement Center. This can be a spouse, loved one, family member, or friend. If you are alone and have no one who can assist you in this role, we will locate a coach for you. It will likely be someone who has already gone through hip or knee replacement surgery…someone who therefore understands the process first-hand and can gently guide you through the various important steps of the process, including your recovery. We believe it’s very important that you have such a coach and a mentor who will be there for you as your “cheering section.”

You will meet with your nurse coordinator one day, one week, and another day during another week. This is what we call our “two-week session.” We’ll inform you about the surgery you are going to have in as much detail as desired. Some patients prefer only a short description – others want to know everything. We do our best to give you as much information as you desire without giving you more than you want or need. The educational sessions are tailored to your specific requirements.

You will learn exercises to do, how to get dressed after surgery, how to brush your teeth, how to cook. You will be briefed on everything you will likely encounter after surgery. You will also learn about pain management. We teach you how to work with your coach to ensure that your pain is well-controlled.  Pain hinders healing and rehabilitation, so we do all we can to help you control your pain. Mobility is very important to your recovery, so we get you up and moving as soon as possible after surgery.

Your nurse coordinator will call you the day after you are discharged from the hospital, and again two days after that.

All follow-up rehabilitation or doctors’ appointments will be scheduled at your convenience.  Your nurse coordinator will call you again about two weeks after your surgery to make sure you are doing fine and to see if you have any additional questions, needs, or concerns.

Many patients ask us “how long will it take me to recover from surgery and get back to doing the things I once did?” The honest answer is that recuperation/recovery is a highly individual process. It depends on your age, unique physiology and motivation, and what your exact activities of daily living consist of. We need to talk with you individually prior to surgery to help you realistically assess how long your recovery process will take. The time-to-recovery can vary widely from patient to patient. This makes sense, since no two patients are alike.

 Members of our integrated team include:

• The orthopedic surgeon who will be doing your surgery.
• The nurse coordinator who will be your “point of constant contact” and your advocate from day one and throughout the entire process. This person will also instruct you and your coach in proper pain management so that you’ll learn what you need to know about pain control well before your actual surgery date.  
• The physical therapist who will be help you with rehabilitation and exercises after surgery.
• The occupational therapist who will assist you with rehabilitation and the activities of daily living after your surgery, including tasks related to your job.
• The dietician who will work with you to make sure that you eat the foods that will enhance your healing process and prevent constipation and other problems after your surgery. This includes a list of sample meals optimized especially for you.     

We teach you how to manage your pain.

Effective pain management is an integral component of our “Be Joint Smart”. As mentioned previously, we work with you and your coach so that you’ll be able to take control of pain before it has a chance to take control of you. Pain hinders rehabilitation and healing, so we do all that we can to help you effectively – and consistently — control your pain. Mobility is very important to your rapid recovery and the outcome of your surgery, overall. So we get you up and moving as soon as possible after surgery.

What you’ll get in “Be Joint Smart.”

• Everything you want to know about your pending joint replacement surgery, including techniques, technologies and materials to be used.
• Complete information about the recovery and rehabilitation process, including team members you’ll be working with, what you’ll likely experience after surgery, proper pain management, and an estimate of your individual time to recovery. 
• Knowledge of proper diet and nutrition to accelerate your healing, and to help you achieve the best long-term results from your surgery. 

At the Joint Replacement Center, we believe that knowledge is power and we encourage all of our patients to take the time to collect information, ask questions, and continue asking questions. We are here to support and educate you, at every step along the way.

For further information, call 650-985-7515.