Total Joint Center

Find an orthopedic surgeon

The Total Joint Center, located on the 9th floor of Saint Vincent Health Center, is designed specifically for total joint replacement patients. Joint replacement patients are typically scheduled for surgery on Monday or Tuesday with a plan for discharge to home on Thursday or Friday of the same week.

Total joint replacement procedures include:

• Hip
• Knee
• Shoulder
• Ankle

The Total Joint Center staff takes a team approach to joint replacement, calling upon patients to join together with other patients to help with their recovery. Therapy sessions include group exercises and fun activities, which have also helped to reduce patient hospital length of stay. Joint replacement patients also receive “extras” during their recovery period, including a hair stylist, designed to make them feel good and get back on their feet quicker, as well as an ice cream social.

Special features of the program include:

• Nurses who specialize in the care of joint patients and will teach you how to care for yourself at home
  
• Private rooms
• Emphasis on group activities as well as individual care
• Nurse case manager who coordinates all preoperative and patient-centered discharge planning
• Highly skilled physical therapists that help you get back on your feet again
• Occupational therapists who educate you on the use of assistive devices, joint protection and energy conservation techniques that can be used during activities of daily living, work and leisure activities
• Emphasis on wellness. You will be asked to bring loose fitting clothes to wear during the day instead of a hospital gown. Our patient activity schedule is designed to make you feel at home while you are recovering.

Pain Management: Femoral Nerve Block Anesthesia
A femoral nerve block is a pre-surgical procedure in which an anesthesiologist inserts a catheter into the groin and threads it near the hip or knee. A local anesthetic is delivered to numb the joint during surgery and for two days afterward, avoiding the side effects of pain-killing narcotics and allowing for quicker progress in rehabilitation.

Free Joint Seminars
We offer free community seminars about hip, knee and shoulder pain. You'll learn about the causes of joint pain and many of the latest treatments. To register for a joint seminar or for more information, call 814/866-4819 or 800/326-8080.

Go to the community calendar to find out when the next free seminar is being held nearest you.

For more information about the Saint Vincent Advanced Orthopedic Center, please call 814/452-5500 or 800/326-8080.