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People walked in without walkers, canes or pain. One woman even showed off her dancing skills.

Mable Huffman, Nancy Staffen and Larry Staffen

On March 21, more than 25 men and women attended the 25th Quarterly Reunion Luncheon for people who had total hip and knee replacement surgery at Monongahela Valley Hospital’s (MVH) Orthopedic Institute.

“Since our patients move freely without pain, it’s always difficult to differentiate our actual patients from their coaches at these luncheons,” remarked Lorraine Damich, MSN, RN, CPAN, ONC, director of MVH’s Orthopedic Institute.

Monongahela resident Nancy Staffen attended the luncheon with her husband/coach, Larry Staffen. She had total hip replacement surgery two years ago and returned to the Orthopedic Institute in 2018 to have knee replacement surgery. “The pre-testing process and class prior to surgery were particularly helpful,” she said.

Established in 2013, the Orthopedic Institute at Monongahela Valley Hospital changed the way people experience joint replacement surgery. The program includes a dedicated hospital unit exclusively for joint replacement patients; prehab, that includes pre-operative classes and testing; coaches who are active participants in the patients’ care providing encouragement and support; aggressive daily schedules that include multiple group therapy sessions; competition in distance walked among patients; and after-care support. The Institute is the only local joint replacement program that evaluates each patient on multiple patient satisfaction criteria.

Lorraine Damich and Darla Kearns

Patients are surveyed on pain and functionality of sitting, standing, walking, using steps and more prior to surgery and then again at various increments from six week to two years following their surgery. These outcomes are then analyzed during monthly performance improvement team meetings to ensure continuous improvement which ultimately leads to patient satisfaction.

Based on feedback from patients who had hip or knee replacement surgery following the Orthopedic Institute’s program, it’s a positive experience — and the Hospital has the data to prove it. Of the patients who had total joint replacement surgery at the Orthopedic Institute, 98 percent would recommend the Institute to others who need total joint replacement surgery. The program also boasts a 99 percent patient satisfaction rate.

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