LAKEWAY REGIONAL HOSPITAL
OPENS THE DOOR TO
“THE JOINT ACADEMY”
Thousands of Americans decide to undergo joint replacement surgery every year. Total joint replacement, or arthroplasty, represents a significant advance in the treatment of patient’s disabling joint pathologies. Total joint replacement can be performed on any joints of the body and the most common ones are for the knee and hip. Over 700,000 people undergo total joint replacement surgery every year.
Patients can work toward the best possible results with their surgery by planning ahead. At Lakeway Regional Hospital, our physicians and staff specialize in helping individuals regain their independence and function after joint surgery. The goal of surgery is to relieve pain, restore independence and get you back to work or doing activities of daily living. With many of the new procedures, patients are recovering quickly. Lakeway Regional Hospital has found that the more informed patients are about the pre-operative and post-operative care of their surgical joint, the better the outcomes.
Lakeway Regional Hospital was the first in East Tennessee to offer the anterior approach minimally invasive hip replacement. They also were the first to have the pinless navigation total knee procedure. LRH has been planning the “ The Joint Academy” for several years.The newly expanded 17 bay area day surgery, allowed additional rooms to be available for “The Joint Academy”. The hospital is undergoing renovations of these rooms to better accommodate the joint surgery patient and their families.
Priscilla Mills, CEO of LRH, states “our patients are very special to us and we want them to know that they can receive the best of care. We have spent a lot of time and planning for the opening of “The Joint Academy”. Patients can benefit from our specialized treatment approaches that greatly enhance the recovery process.
“One of our program’s highlights is getting to know you and preparing for your procedure prior to your scheduled surgery,” states Pam Johns, CNO of LRH. “The Joint Academy” is available to you through your physician’s referral or you can be self-referred for the educational information. When your physician has determined that surgery is the best option for you, the physician’s office staff can contact the hospital and set up an appointment for you to start “The Joint Academy” or you may call at 423-522-6004. “The Joint Academy” allows you to complete all of your pre-admission requirements in one day prior to surgery as well as allows you to attend an educational session on all the things you need to know about your care after surgery. A nurse practitioner will meet with you and complete all of your pre-admission laboratory tests, obtain medical clearance, and will work closely with your physician. You will be able to have all paperwork and labs completed prior to surgery. On the day of “The Joint Academy” you and one family member will be scheduled a time to come to the hospital, have lunch with the staff and attend a class that will give you all the information you need about your surgery. You will receive educational information about joint disease, joint surgery, learn about the joint replacement team, exercises to do before and after surgery, discharge planning, insurance, obtaining equipment and a rehabilitation plan post surgery.
Lakeway Regional Hospital has an established team of healthcare professionals to care for you. Those comprising the team are the patient, the physician, the nurse practitioner, surgical team, rehabilitative nurse, physical therapist, occupational therapist, case manager, dietitician, hospital volunteers and your designated family member. LRH has a qualified team of therapists to assist you with your rehabilitation needs. LRH has the only inpatient rehab facility in the Lakeway area. They also have an experienced team of therapists for outpatient therapy. The Rehab Center recently expanded their outpatient therapy services with additional space. The team will assist you in determining the best rehabilitation regime that bests meets your needs. Please call or drop by to find out more about “The Joint Academy” ....... another healthy resource at Lakeway Regional Hospital.