Joint Replacement Center: It's a Joint Effort
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Michael Kelly, M.D., Orthopaedic Surgeon with the Alegent Health Orthopaedic Institute Find out more about Dr. Kelly
Imagine turning surgery and recovery into a group experience. This dream is a reality at the Alegent Health Joint Replacement Centers. |
The centers schedule a group of patients for surgery
on a Monday or Tuesday, for example. (Two weeks before surgery, patients attend
an educational session to learn more about their procedure and what will occur
during their hospital stay.)
The day after surgery, the entire group goes through a three to four-day recuperation period together in a dedicated unit of the hospital. Patients have the opportunity to eat and go through physical therapy together, all while developing mutual support and camaraderie that encourages the healing process.
Joint Replacement Center participant Mary Cusick is a recent graduate, having had both knees and hips replaced. "It just hurt really bad. My family says I was bent over really bad," recalls Mary.
Now those aches and pains are gone, and Mary can walk the block and a half to church without a cane.
Dr. Mike Kelly says "At first I was very resistant, until a private physician sold me on it. Now my patients are happier, they get better faster, and it makes my life easier."
The Centers for Joint Replacement help focus on patients coming in to have an elective operation to fix their joint, rather than focusing on them as sick people. These patients are basically healthy people looking to lead more active lives, relieve pain and restore function.
Alegent Health Joint Replacement Centers are located at Immanuel Medical Center and Bergan Mercy Medical Center in Omaha, Mercy Hospital in Council Bluffs, and Midlands Hospital in Papillion.
Find more information about Alegent Health Joint
Replacement Centers online, or call 1-800-ALEGENT (1-800-253-4368) for details.
