Joint Replacement Center Provides Optimal Experience for Patients
March 10th will be a key date in the orthopedic history of North Dakota. That’s when Trinity Hospital marks the
official launch of its new joint replacement center. The Trinity Joint Replacement Center (JRC) is an 11-bed unit on
the east wing of the hospital’s 6thFloor Ortho/Neuro Unit. But the center is much more than an address, according
to Darren Armstrong, MSM, and Trinity’s new joint care coordinator. “While joint replacement has been a center
of excellence at Trinity, this is really a new approach for patients undergoing hip or knee joint replacement
surgery,” Armstrong says. “It features standardization of processes, benchmarks for care and a group approach to
patient care and recovery. Ultimately this program sets an expectation for patient outcomes higher than it has ever
been before. The overriding goal is to improve patient satisfaction and outcomes.”
Research & Planning
The center culminates two years of planning and research that involved tours of joint replacement centers and
an examination of the best practices around the country to see what works best for patients. These best practices
are emphasized in every aspect of surgery from anesthesia to pain management. The result is a concept of joint
surgery care that views patients more as guests than patients with a disease. “Even the design of the unit
increases patient mobility and self-sufficiency,” Armstrong adds. “It’s a dedicated unit with dedicated therapy
and nursing staff. In addition to a bed, each of the rooms has a therapy reclining chair. The day after
surgery, patients will get dressed in their own comfortable clothes and spend most of their time in that chair
when they’re not doing other activities. With this approach there’s not a lot of bed time.” The process actually
begins well before the day of surgery. Patients attend an educational program with their families prior to
their surgery, where they’re given an orientation and a primer on what to expect. This pre-op education class
includes information from pharmacy, therapies and nursing; it includes a tour of the joint center and an opportunity
for patients to meet their caregivers prior to their procedure.
Group Support
Group support is another feature of the new program. Whereas patients previously dealt with joint replacement surgery
on an individual basis, the new Joint Replacement Center emphasizes patients teaming up with other patients
going through the same process and letting them exercise, eat and enjoy other activities together as a group, all
the while providing encouragement and support to each other. “It works great,” said Connie Moberg, Rolla, partial
knee recipient and one of a handful of patients selected to pilot the new program. “We do the exercises as a group
and you can just see the improvement, ”Moberg says. “I like being able to wear my own clothes and being in the
chair. You’re really only in bed at night.”
Your Passport to Health
To make recovery more fun and interesting for patients, the Trinity JRC incorporates a travel theme into the
activities and décor. Each patient receives his/her own “passport” to record progress toward individual goals
and objectives. The passport is not only for the patient, it provides family and caregivers an opportunity to
gain perspective on what progress and independent skills to expect from patients following transfer back home.
A wall board with miniature airplanes charts the steps in the patient’s journey home. “It’s wonderful,” said Dr.
Evelyn Kindy, whose mom, Gysele Bouchard, experienced the new program for a total knee. “Patients receive more
incentive and feedback. They can see the improvement they’ve made every day. I also like the 20-hour (anesthesia)
block after surgery. There’s almost no pain and less need for a narcotic.” Dr. Kindy was serving in the role of
“coach” for her mom. Patients are encouraged to have a friend or family member act as a coach or champion to help
the patient achieve his or her goals and provide an extra source of support and encouragement. The “coach” also has
the opportunity to develop a comfort level and skills set for assisting the patient when he or she returns home.
“The goal is to have patients return home after discharge with both their families and themselves feeling confident
in the progress achieved during their stay at the Trinity Joint Replacement Center,” Armstrong said.
Trinity Joint Replacement Center
Special Features
• Separate unit of Trinity Hospital with dedicated staff to optimize joint patients’
recovery.
• Pre-orientation so patients know what to expect.
• Reclining chairs in each room that enable patients to get up and get moving as
quickly as possible.
• Group support – patients eat, exercise and enjoy activities together to exchange
encouragement and support.
Team of Experts
Trinity’s staff includes a talented team of nurses, occupational therapists, physical therapists and support staff –
all dedicated to providing patient-centered, individualized care. Our orthopedic surgeons perform hundreds of
joint replacement surgeries each year and stay current with advanced training in various joint procedures.
Ravindra Joshi, MD
David Uthus, MD
Alexander Kindy, MD
E. Dexter Scott, MD
Darren Armstrong, MSM, Joint Replacement Coordinator
From April 2008 HealthTalk
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Contact for Media Relations:
Mary Muhlbradt
701-857-5116 - phone
701-833-3341 – cell phone
701-857-5683 - fax
mary.muhlbradt@trinityhealth.org
Randy Schwan, Vice President
Marketing and Community Education
701-857-5635 - phone
701-857-5683 - fax
randy.schwan@trinityhealth.org
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