Trumbull Memorial Unveils Joint Replacement Center
WARREN, Ohio – ValleyCare Health System of Ohio cut the ribbon Thursday evening for its new Center for Joint Replacement at Trumbull Memorial Hospital.
Based on a national best practice model for hip and knee replacements and structured around the fundamental principles of wellness, the program has a customer service focus and is aimed at giving patients the knowledge and tools to make the transition from hospital to home as smooth as possible, ValleyCare says.
“First and foremost, we do not see our patients as being sick,” says orthopedic surgeon Tom Jones, M.D., a member of the medical staff at Trumbull Memorial. “Instead, we see them as healthy individuals who are coming to the hospital because they have hip or knee pain and want a better quality of life by having joint replacement surgery.”
Before surgery, patients attend a pre-operative class where they receive information on what to expect before, during and after their joint replacement surgery. They are encouraged to have a friend or family member act as a “coach” as they go through the joint replacement process, beginning with the pre-op class and continuing through the recovery process.
A special unit is reserved for patients so that they are in a dedicated setting with other patients undergoing similar surgeries. Patients wear their own clothes instead of hospital gowns, and they exercise together. This “group” approach is very helpful because it makes recuperation more enjoyable, as patients encourage and support each other during their hospital stay, ValleyCare officials say.
Patients are also treated to group lunches, t-shirts, travel mugs and more, which makes the program unique.
The center also will offer free educational seminars every Thursday beginning May 7. Hip or knee pain sufferers are encouraged to attend.
Pictured: Julia Ballas, Center for Joint Replacement Joint Care coordinator, Tom Jones, orthopedic surgeon, John Walsh, TMH CEO, Doug Franklin, Warren Mayor, Stanley Feret, Cortland Banks chief lending officer and TMH board chairman and Melissa Bennett, TMH chief nursing officer.
SOURCE: ValleyCare of Ohio.
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