When hip or knee pain starts to impact your daily activities, such as walking, driving, standing, playing golf or enjoying your grandchildren, we can help. The South Carolina Joint Center offers a comprehensive, integrated approach designed to minimize pain and restore your quality of life to the maximum extent possible when you have total hip or knee replacement.
The multidisciplinary team includes orthopedic surgeons, a joint care coordinator, specially trained healthcare professionals, and physical and occupational therapists.
The South Carolina Joint Center is top-rated in South Carolina* for overall orthopedic services by HealthGrades®, the nation’s leading independent healthcare ratings organization.
The joint center follows a patient-focused clinical pathway, which accounts for high levels of patient satisfaction. We have developed a comprehensive, planned course of treatment. We believe patients play a key role in ensuring a successful recovery. Our goal is to involve patients and their “coaches” in their treatment through each step of the program.
* HealthGrades® is the leading independent healthcare ratings organization for hospitals in the U.S. 2011 ratings.
Blue Cross Distinction
South Carolina Joint Center is 1 of 15 centers in the state of South Carolina to receive recognition in the Blue Cross Blue Shield as a Blue Distinction Center. To be included in this national network, a Blue Distinction Center “must demonstrate quality care, treatment expertise and better overall patient results.”
Program Features
Features of the joint center program include:
- A joint care coordinator who provides education and assistance through each step of the process and works with a medical social worker to facilitate hospital discharge planning
- Clinical assessment by an orthopedic surgeon
- Nurses and therapists who specialize in the care of joint surgery patients
- Emphasis on individual care
- Designated private rooms for surgical patients
- Family and friends participating as “coaches” in the preoperative and recovery processes
- A comprehensive surgical patient guidebook for preoperative and postoperative education and needs
Patient Guidebook
Preparation, education, continuity of care, and a pre-planned hospital discharge are crucial for optimum results in joint replacement surgery. Communication is essential to this process. The orthopedic surgery patient guidebooks are essential communication tools for patients, physicians, physicians’ assistants, nurses, physical and occupational therapists and caregivers. It is designed to educate you so that you know:
- What to expect every step of the way
- What you need to do before and after surgery
- How to care for yourself before and after surgery
Patients scheduled for total hip or knee replacement surgery will receive a comprehensive guidebook before surgery. The book will serve as an important tool before surgery, while in the hospital, and during the days, weeks and months following surgery.
Joint Care Coordinator
The joint care coordinator will guide you through a course of treatment with a goal of improving your quality of life. Not all orthopedic problems result in surgery; however, when they do, you can find comfort in knowing you have someone with you every step of the way.
The joint center offers consultations with orthopedic surgeons, preoperative education classes, comprehensive patient guidebooks, and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation and physical therapy.
The coordinator will assist you during treatment and ensure you understand each step of the process.
Whatever your treatment, you can feel confident knowing our dedicated and trained staff will guide you through a personalized approach to advanced joint replacement services.
Imaging Services
Your orthopedic surgeon may schedule imaging studies to identify orthopedic-related problems. These may be traditional X-rays, MRIs or CT scans. The surgeon’s office will inform you about the imaging services you need and your options.
Preoperative Education
If you have been scheduled for surgery, the joint care coordinator will be your guide. The coordinator is available to answer questions during the preoperative and postoperative periods. You will bring your “coach” (family member or friend who can assist you through the process) to the preoperative education class, which is ideally suited for patients undergoing total hip or knee replacement surgery. All orthopedic surgery patients are welcome to attend the class, which is held most Mondays in Classroom B of Self Regional Medical Center’s Optimum Life Center.
Orthopedic Surgery
If you are scheduled for total hip or knee replacement, you can feel confident in knowing your surgeons are board-certified and highly trained in their fields. From pretesting to the day of surgery, you will be prepared by healthcare professionals to understand all aspects of your surgical procedure.
Hospital Orthopedic Floor
Following surgery, orthopedic surgery patients are taken to designated inpatient suites on the fourth floor of the Self Regional Medical Center Patient Tower. These modern, private rooms are spacious and offer room for your coach or a family member to stay through the night with you. Your nurses are able to assist you in your postoperative recovery process and help meet your pain management needs.
Therapy Services
Physical and occupational therapists are healthcare professionals who examine and treat conditions that limit the body’s ability to move and function in daily life.
Therapy often can serve as an alternative to surgery and/or pain medication. Not all orthopedic-related problems require surgery, and many times physicians recommend rehabilitation as a surgical alternative. If surgery becomes the best option, therapists provide postoperative treatment to help with recovery.
For total hip or knee replacement surgery, therapy begins in the hospital and continues following hospital discharge.