Your Total Joint Replacement Surgery · 2012-03-20 · • Patient’s Guide to Total Joint Replacement. • A list of the medications you have been tak-ing (include any you may have

315 South Manning BoulevardAlbany, New York 12208

Your Total JointReplacement Surgery

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Our MissionSt. Peter’s Health Care Services, acting in theCatholic tradition of the Religious Sisters ofMercy, is a community of persons committed tobeing a transforming, healing presence withinthe communities we serve.

• We treat all persons with dignity, hospitality and compassion, calling forth their besthuman potential.

• We provide comprehensive services that sup-port healthy communities, including qualitymedical care with holistic approaches to heal-ing body, mind and spirit.

• We care for and strengthen the ministry andall resources entrusted to us.

• We advocate for accessible health care andquality of life for all, especially those who arepoor.

• We respond with courage and integrity toneeds for services in a rapidly changinghealth care environment.

Our Core ValuesCompassion – We share the suffering of others;showing empathy and concern for anyone indistress and responding kindly and sensitively.

Reverence For Each Person – We show respectand consideration for each person, affirming thesacredness of human life.

Community – We demonstrate our interde-pendence through inclusive and compassionaterelationships.

Hospitality – We create an environment wherepersons feel welcome and included, striving tomeet perceived as well as expressed needs.

Excellence – We take pride in our work, contin-uously improving our skills and abilities so thatour distinctive service benefits those we serveand with whom we work.

Integrity – We keep our word and are faithfulto who we say we are.

Courage – We dare to take the risks our beliefsdemand of us.

Introduction…1

Letter from St. Peter’s Orthopedic Team…2

Choosing St. Peter’s…3

Telephone InterviewConfirming Your Surgery

Welcome to St. Peter’s Total Joint Program…4

RoundingLet Us Know What How We Are Doing

What to Bring to the Hospital…5

Planning Your Hospital Stay…5

Planning Your Discharge…6

Short-Term (Sub-Acute) Rehabilitation…6

St. Peter’s Nursing & RehabilitationCenterOur Lady of Mercy Life Center…7

Nutrition…8

Your Day of Surgery…8

Initial Recovery…8

Pain Management Program…9

Recovery and Rehabilitation…10

Help Prevent Circulation Problems…11

Help Prevent Lung Problems…12

Anticoagulation Therapy…13

Questions I Want Answered…14

Orthopedic Patient Discharge Planning Information Form…15

Table of Contents


At St. Peter’s Hospital,we believe that:

Patient and family education is a critical component of providing excellent patient care. This education is essential:

• First, in the prevention of disabilities resulting from chronic disease, musculoskeletal abnormalities, trauma, and improvement from such disabilities.

• Second, in the planning, healing, recovery and rehabilitative process surrounding surgery.

Patients and families have the right to learn:

• What services and treatment are available to them from St. Peter’s Hospital;

• The benefits of their participation in treatment plans;

• The outcomes they can expect.

Patients and their families are our principal sources of ideas, inspiration, information, andrequests for the development and on-going improvement of patienteducation materials andprograms.

High satisfaction, learning and changing health behaviors of patients are the most significantoutcomes of our efforts.

The education pertinent to each patient must be conveyed by the teaching/learning method andstrategies, which are adapted to each patient’s and caregiver’sage, level of development, culture,educational background, language, and readiness to learn.

Patient education is the responsibility of all health care providers. As providers of clinical excellence,we further believe that we have a responsibility to continuously improve our methodsof approaching, developing, and providing patient and family educational information.

In support of these beliefs, the multidisciplinary orthopedic team serves as a resource and facilitator to all such providers. The team supports a consistent approach to the presentation ofall materials, which carry out the mission of the institution, as well as a universal, uniformrespect for the cultural and educational diversity of our patients.

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Introduction

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Dear Patient:

We designed this book to help guide you through your surgical journey from begin-ning to end. Its objectives are three-fold:

• To help prepare you for your surgery and hospital experience

• To guide your recovery from your Total Joint Replacement Surgerywhile in the hospital, encouraging you to be as independent as possible

• To prepare you for your recovery at home

This book is a general guide to recovery from Total Joint Replacement. However, notall patients have the same conditions or needs. Your doctor, physical therapist, ornurse may make changes from this book. We will use the best technology and educa-tional strategies in an atmosphere that nurtures your well being.

At St. Peter’s Hospital all of our caregivers and support personnel are committed toexcellence. They complement and support the outstanding surgical staff.

You can help achieve your optimal recovery from your surgery by becoming anactive, helpful part of the St. Peter’s Hospital team before, during and after the sur-gery. Of course, the long-range benefit of your surgery depends very much on thesuccess of your continuing rehabilitation at home. Therefore, we hope and expectthat you will continue to practice what the team has taught you long after you haveleft us.

This book guides your recovery. you will refer to it while you are in therapy andthroughout your hospital stay. You and your support network should read this bookcarefully now, and then refer to it as needed during your recovery process.

Please bring this book to the hospital with you. You will need it for reference andguidance.

Sincerely,

St. Peter’s Hospital Orthopedic Team

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Your health care is a cooperative effortamong you, your doctor and the hospitalstaff. The staff at St. Peter’s Hospital wouldlike you to know how we will assist you andyour surgeon in preparing for surgery.

The pre-anesthesia testing process is an essen-tial part of the preparation for your surgery.Please call the Pre-Admission Testing (PAT)Department at 525-1545 to schedule twoappointments:

1. A telephone assessment/interview with anurse, and

2. An appointment for any tests your surgeonor anesthesiologist has ordered.

This telephone interview is a very importantpart of the preparation for your surgery. Thenurse will review your medical and surgical his-tory, inform you of the things you will need todo in preparation for your surgery (i.e., fast-ing), and tell you which medications to take(or NOT take) the morning of surgery.

Please have the following information ready forthis telephone interview:

• A list of medications, vitamins and herbalsupplements you are taking (both prescrip-tion and over-the-counter), including thedose and spelling of each medication.

• The name and phone number of your pri-mary care physician and any other physicianspecialist you routinely visit.

• The name and number of your pharmacy.

To help us ensure we have all of the reportsrequired for your medical record, please tell the PAT staff if you have had any blood work,electrocardiograms (EKG), or pre-surgical evaluations within the last 30 days. Please notethat your physician must have completed ahistory and physical exam within 30 days prior to your surgery and faxed that form to944-2505.

Confirming Your SurgeryYou will need to confirmthe time of your surgeryso that you know whattime to arrive at the hos-pital. If your surgery ison a Monday, you needto call the operatingroom scheduling officeon the Friday before thesurgery. If you are hav-ing surgery Tuesdaythrough Saturday, youneed to call the day before your surgery. Thenumber to call is 525-1113, between 1 and 4p.m. If you are unable to call during that time,you may call the pre-admission testing office at525-1545 between 4 and 6 p.m.

You must arrange for someone to drive youhome from the hospital. (Your driver mayhave his/her parking ticket validated for freeparking the day

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Thank you for choosing to have your surgery at St. Peter’s Hospital.


What to Bring to the Hospital

• X-rays and lab reports (if requested)

• Health Care Proxy

• Flat, supportive athletic or walking shoesthat are non-slip.

• Short lightweight bathrobe (short clothinghelps prevent tripping while walking).

• You may prefer to wear your own nightwearafter the first day. Short gowns, loose paja-mas, or baggy shorts work best.

• Sweat suit, or loose, comfortable fittingclothes to wear home (your family couldbring these when you are ready to leave).

• Personal toiletries

• Eyeglasses instead of contact lenses. (Theyare easier to take care of and less likely to belost in the hospital. We cannot be responsi-ble if you lose them.)

• Dentures: we will provide a container foryou to use. (When you remove them, keepthe container on your bedside table or in adrawer, not in the bed or food tray. As withglasses, we cannot be responsible for loss.)

• Patient’s Guide to Total Joint Replacement.

• A list of the medications you have been tak-ing (include any you may have stopped inanticipation of surgery).

• Telephone numbers of people you may wantto call.

• Small amount of money ($20 or less) fornewspapers, and other items.

• A book, magazine or hobby item to helpyou relax.

Do Not Bring to the Hospital• Valuables

• Jewelry

• Credit cards

Planning Your Hospital StayPersonal articles and clothing should be limitedto those that fit into a single, small piece ofluggage. There is very little storage in yourinpatient room. With regard to bringing thingsin, we suggest you plan in two phases:

• What you may need, or want, while in thehospital. If you expect family or someoneelse to visit you as soon as you go to yourinpatient room, it may be most convenientfor them to bring in the things you want inthe hospital. Please bring your non-skidshoes to wear during your therapy sessions.

• What will you need for your trip home. Youwill need loose-fitting clothing, non-skidshoes, outer coat (in season), etc. Yourfamily can bring in these items the day youleave.

Regarding your crutches or walker:You will need crutches or a walker when youbegin to practice walking in the hospital. Thehospital has equipment for your use duringyour hospital stay. The case manager will assistwith arranging for equipment you may need atdischarge.

Regarding your hospital stay, pleasenote the following: We prefer that you usethe hospital gown for 24 hours after surgery. Itis easier to get on and off. You will be walkingshortly after surgery. Shoes with non-skid solesare necessary. Bring orthotics, if you use them.If you prefer a special type of soap or hairproduct, please bring them. And of course,bring your basic cosmetics.

Electric razors and battery-operated appliancesare the only appliances you may bring to thehospital. This is for safety for yourself and others patients.

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Relaxation Items: A device for playingmusic, a stuffed animal, reading materials, orany personal articles that may help you relax.Arrange for these to be brought to you in yourinpatient room. TV and telephone service areavailable in your room (at additional charges).Also, an accessible Wi-Fi Hotspot called“Guest” is available.

Medications: Once you arrive at St. Peter’sHospital, we will supply all your medications.

Women: Your surgery may trigger a changein your menstrual cycle. Sanitary pads are avail-able from the hospital or you may bring yourown.

Planning Your Discharge(Complete the attached discharge plan-ning form on page 15 and bring it withyou to the hospital on your scheduledsurgical day.)

Discharge planning begins when you and yourphysician schedule a surgical date. Our goal isto assist you with a seamless discharge plan.Please be aware that your hospital stay will be2-3 nights following surgery, therefore the dis-charge plan needs to be in place prior to sur-gery. We encourage consistency with thatchoice of plan to avoid discharge delay.

Discharge Planning Options

• Outpatient Physical Therapy:This is a service that provides therapy in anoutpatient setting. A prescription will beprovided by your surgeon for therapy at the facility of your choice. This can be discussed with the case manager. Trans-portation to and from therapy will be yourresponsibility. Therapy is usually as orderedby your surgeon.

• Home Health: This is a service coveredunder Medicare and most private andHMO insurances. Your nurse CaseManager or Social Worker will assist you inselecting an agency that is a provider foryour insurance carrier. A physical therapistwill visit the home for therapy at the fre-quency ordered by your doctor. This is anoption for patients who do not have avail-able transportation to and from outpatienttherapy and are considered homebound.Non-Medicare patients will need to contactyour insurance company to verify coveragefor home health and co-pay requirements.

• Skilled Nursing Facility: A facilitythat provides inpatient therapy and skillednursing services. This is an option forpatients who live alone, or do not have anable caregiver and will need to be moremobile for a safe discharge home. Therapyis usually twice daily for the duration ofyour stay at the facility. Length of stay isusually 7–10 days based on your progress.It is the responsibility of patient and familyto select a facility. St. Peter’s has two skilledfacilities, St. Peter’s Nursing &Rehabilitation Center and Our Lady ofMercy Life Center.

• Equipment: This will be ordered byyour case manager or social worker in thehospital.

• Your discharge plan will be finalized duringyour hospital stay.

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St. Peter’s Nursing & RehabilitationCenterSt. Peter’s Nursing & Rehabilitation Center isstaffed and equipped to provide a broad rangeof services, including a separate 40-bed, desig-nated rehabilitation unit. This is for individualswho do not require hospital-based acute reha-bilitation. Length of stay can be several days orseveral weeks, with a personalized plan of careto ensure appropriate medical, therapeutic andsocial services, and discharge planning at everystage of the rehabilitation process.

Our interdisciplinary treatment team is comprised of physiatrists (rehabilitation medicine physicians) including the chief ofRehabili- tation Medicine at St. Peter’sHospital; physical, occupational and speech-language therapists; along with skilled nursingstaff oriented to the needs of rehabilitationpatients. Our goal is to help patients reach theiroptimal level of functioning and return homesafely.

Sub-acute rehabilitation patients enjoy a widerange of amenities including cable televisionand DVD players in each room, DVD moviesto borrow, telephones, computer classes, reli-gious services, and rehabilitation-specific groupactivities and dining areas.

Comprehensive Rehabilitation

Upon admission, each resident is evaluated byphysical and occupational therapists to deter-mine any specific needs. Our rehabilitationservices include:

• Physical therapy• Occupational therapy• Speech therapy and audiology• Evaluation for any equipment needs

All therapies are delivered with the goal ofenabling each resident to achieve the most satisfying, independent lifestyle possible.

Convenient Location As a caregiver, family member or resident,you’ll want frequent visits to be convenient.St. Peter’s Nursing & Rehabilitation Center islocated in the heart of the Capital Region,minutes from major highways,in one ofAlbany’s largest and nicest residential neighbor-hoods.

If any medical emergency arises, residents havefast access to St. Peter’s Hospital, which islocated adjacent to our facility. St. Peter’sHospital is one of the nation’s top-rated hospi-tals for cardiac, stroke and clinical care.

Comfortable Environment & ActivitiesSt. Peter’s Nursing & Rehabilitation Center isthe perfect union of quality care and a comfort-able atmosphere. While we offer the latest inmedical technology, we also have bright, sunlitrooms and courtyards that are warm and wel-coming. Our multidisciplinary staff is highlyexperienced in long-term care. They under-stand the power of a smile and know residentsand their families by name.

Our Lady of Mercy Life CenterOur Lady of Mercy Life Center’s RehabilitationProgram is staffed and equipped to provide abroad range of professional services designed tomeet your needs.

A sub-acute program at Our Lady of MercyLife Center is a great place to begin the rehabil-itation process. Whether the length of stay isseveral days or several weeks at our facility, apersonalized plan of care assures appropriatemedical, therapeutic, social services and dis-charge planning at every stage of the rehabilita-tion process.

Our interdisciplinary treatment team consistsof physical, occupational and speech-languagetherapists, along with skilled nursing staff ori-ented to the needs of rehabilitation residents.

Short-Term (Sub-Acute) Rehabilitation


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Through the St. Peter’s continuum of care, ofwhich the Life Center is an integral part, youwill have access to a wide range of treatmentsand resources. Our goal is to assist you inreaching your optimal level of functioning andhelp you return home safely.

Additionally, our sub-acute rehabilitation resi-dents enjoy a wide range of amenities, includ-ing cable television, same-day phone installa-tion, group activities, religious programs andmore.

Nutrition Before Your SurgeryBefore Coming to the HospitalYour nutritional program is an important piecefor your overall health. But before surgery, itbecomes even more important to eat healthy.You should take a fresh look at how and whatyou eat at this time.

To help you heal, be sure that you eat foodsfrom all the food groups: breads and starches,fruits and vegetables, lean meat, poultry, dry beans, eggs and nuts, and low-fat dairyproducts.

Your present nutritional program may offeropportunity for improvement. With the moti-vation for preparing for surgery, now is a per-fect time to begin adjusting your diet on along-range basis. It will help you now, it willhelp you heal, and can improve your health inthe future.

Controlling Your WeightYour nutritional program should help youmaintain an ideal weight for your size and age.Proper weight decreases stress on all joints.

If You Are OverweightYour doctor may prescribe a weight loss diet foryou before your surgery. Your weight-loss dietshould be a balanced meal plan for weight loss

of one to two pounds per week. Losing weightmore rapidly can be bad for your health. Yourweight loss should be supervised by your doc-tor or by a registered dietitian.

You may contact the American DieteticAssociation at 1-800-877-1600 ext 4193 orvisit the American Dietetic Association websiteat www.eatright.org to find a registered dietitiannear your home.

Your Day of SurgeryYou and your family are to follow the instruc-tion provided when you confirmed your surgical time. When you arrive on the unit, theadmitting staff will complete your admissionprocess.

You will put on a surgical gown. Your clothesand personal possessions will be given to yourfamily.

The nursing staff will review your final prepa-rations before surgery.

• An intravenous infusion (IV) will bestarted. Your IV line provides a route forfluids, medications, antibiotics and bloodtransfusion, if necessary. Your IV will becontinued for approximately 48 hours following surgery.

• Special white, knee-high support stockings(we call them TEDS) will be put on yourlegs. They support and promote circulationto your legs during and after surgery.

• The anesthesiologist will discuss the anes-thesia and pain management methods ap-propriate for you.

During your surgery, your family members maystay in the Surgical Waiting Room.

• Your type of surgery will take about 1½ to2½ hours.

• Your recovery time in PACU will be anotherone to two hours.


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The surgeon will talk with your family whenthe surgery is completed. If your family isunable to be present after your surgery, pleasenotify your surgeon’s office about where yourfamily can be reached and provide the tele-phone number.

Initial RecoveryYour Initial Recovery After Surgery inthe Post-Amesthesia Care Unit(PACU)

After surgery, you will need immediate, carefulmonitoring while you recover from anesthesiaand gradually awaken.

An anesthesiologist or CRNA will bring youfrom the OR to a special recovery room calledthe Post-Anesthesia Care Unit (PACU) andwill oversee your recovery from anesthesia. Youwill be provided with oxygen, IV fluids, andcontinuous cardiac and respiratory monitoring,while your anesthesia wears off. Nurses contin-uously monitor your condition and provide aidand comfort as you recover.


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Pain Management Program

Even under your personal Pain ManagementProgram, your pain level may change at times.Be sure to tell your nurse if it becomes worse.

Your need for pain control after surgery will bemet immediately. Tell your nurse as soon as thepain starts. Your pain is easier to control if youdo not allow it to become severe before takingpain medication. Please discuss the best schedulefor you with your nurse.

Please notify your nurse or doctor if you are notgetting pain relief. We want you to be as com-fortable as possible while you heal. And also,

you will be able to participate better in yourrecovery activities.

A day after your surgery, you will be switched toa pain medication given to you by mouth. Bythis time, your surgical pain will be less severeand you will be able to progress with variousactivities more readily. Oral pain medicationhelps patients resume daily activities with a min-imum amount of discomfort.

For additional pain relief we will provide youwith ice packs and introduce you to helpfulrelaxation exercises.

Beginning Your PainManagement ProgramAt St. Peter’s Hospital, we arefully aware that your surgerywill be followed by pain,which you may (or may not)begin to feel in the PACU.Our goal is that your pain willbe treated and rated a three orless on the pain scale of oneto 10 before you leave thePACU.

You will remain in the PACUuntil your recovery is stabi-lized. The anesthesiologist ormedical physician will deter-mine your readiness to betransferred to your in-patienthospital room.

Visitation While You Are Inthe PACUVisitation in PACU is restrict-ed in order to promote priva-cy for all patients, decreasethe risk of infection, and toenhance the healing process.

Every effort will be made toprovide your family with themost current informationabout your condition. Theywill be informed about yourschedule for transfer and thenyour move to your inpatientroom as soon as the assign-ment is known.

People used to think thatsevere pain after surgery wassomething they “just had toput up with.” Today with cur-

rent pain control methods,that is no longer true. At St. Peter’s, we provide a teamapproach to manage the painthat results from your surgicalprocedure.

Because there are no tests tomeasure pain, you must beready to tell the staff whatyour pain feels like, where it islocated and if it changes. Thestaff will also ask how well thepain medications are working.Sometimes pain is constant,other times it comes in bursts.Pain can be sharp, burning,tingling, throbbing, or aching.You will be asked to rateyour pain on the scalebelow:


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Once you are in your inpatientroom, you will encounter vari-ous conditions and activities.

• Vital signs: Your vital signs,which consist of blood pres-sure, pulse, respiratory rateand temperature, are takenfrequently after surgery. Thecirculation of blood and mo-tion in your legs will also beassessed regularly.

• Breathing and exercise:You will be asked to breathedeeply, to use your incentivespirometer (described else-where) and to exercise yourlegs frequently in order toprevent complications.

• Surgical dressing anddrainage: You will have abulky dressing around thesurgical site. The dressingwill be removed a day or soafter surgery.

• Continuous Passive Mo-tion (CPM) machine fortotal knee replacementsurgery only: You will havea CPM machine on your op-erated leg. It bends your legat the knee to help the heal-ing process. The CPM ma-chine is described in detailon a following page.

• Urination after surgery:Patients may be unable tourinate on their own aftersurgery. This is related totemporary effects of theanesthesia, your pain medi-cine and your need to be inbed. A catheter may be in-serted into your bladder toremove urine if you are un-able to urinate on your own.

• Blood transfusion: Ablood transfusion may be

necessary to replace bloodloss during surgery.

• Intermittent PneumaticCompression Device: Youwill have special leg wrapsplaced on your legs after surgery. These wraps attachto a pneumatic compressiondevice. This modern tech-nology is designed to helpincrease blood flow.

• TED Stockings: You willreturn with TED stockings(anti-embolism stockings).These stockings apply com-pression to promote in-creased blood flow to reducethe risk of blood clots.

• Physical Therapy/Occu-pational Therapy: Youmay be seen as early as theday of surgery for evaluationby the rehabilitation profes-sionals. A personalized exer-cise and activity programwill be developed to restoreyour strength and promoteindependence.

Cold TherapyCold therapy in the form of icepacks is provided to reduceswelling and pain. Cold therapydecreases pain at the surgicalarea.

We recommend that ice packsbe applied to the surgery site for20 minutes every two hours(four or five times each day)throughout your hospitaliza-tion. Don‘t hesitate to ask thenursing staff for ice packsbetween various activities.

Cold therapy can be very help-ful at home. If your leg feelsheavy and stiff, we recommendthat you rest with ice packs

applied to the tender or swollenareas. Cold therapy is also help-ful after physical therapy. Youmay take the ice packs homewith you.

Relaxation ExercisesRelaxation exercises, such as aslow rhythmic breathing, canhelp handle any pain you maybe feeling, as well as provideoverall comfort.

• Breathe in slowly and deeply.

• As you breathe out, slowlyfeel yourself beginning torelax; feel the tension leavingyour body.

• Now breathe in and outslowly and regularly at what-ever rate is comfort-able foryou. You may wish to tryabdominal breathing (usingyour diaphragm). If you donot know how to do abdom-inal breathing, ask yournurse for assistance.

• To help you focus on yourbreathing, breathe slowlyand rhythmically. Breathe inand say silently to yourself“in, two, three.” Thenbreathe out and say silentlyto yourself “out, two, three.“

• It may help to imagine thatyou are doing this in a placethat is very calm ing and re-laxing for you, such as lyingin the sun at the beach or inyour own special place.

• End with a slow, deep,breath. As you breathe outsay to yourself, “I feel alertand relaxed.“ Then concen-trate on staying that way!

Recovery and Rehabilitation


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Soon after surgery, you will be asked to perform gentle exercises. These exercises, such as ankle pumps, quad sets, and gluteal sets, will help prevent circulation problems. They willalso strengthen your muscles. Other exercises appropriate for you (some are reviewed later in thissection) will be taught by the physical therapist.

To enhance your circulation, you will be expected to perform these exercises 10 times each, everyhour while awake.

Gluteal Sets: Squeeze your buttocks together. Hold for five seconds, then release. You can do this exercise whether you are laying or sitting.

Help Prevent Circulation Problems

Ankle Pumps: Bend your feet toward you(use your ankles to flex your feet) and awayfrom you (point your feet). You can do thisexercises whether you are laying or sitting.

Quad Sets: Press the backs of your kneesinto the bed by tightening the front of yourthigh. Hold for five seconds, relax.

NOTE: you can only do these when layingdown.


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After surgery it is important to exercise your lungs by taking deep breaths.Normally, you may take a deep breath each hour, usually without being aware of it. They are spontaneous, automatic, and occur in the form of sighs and yawns.

However, when you are experiencing pain or drowsiness from the anesthesia or your pain medica-tion, your normal breathing pattern can change. Therefore, you will be provided with an incentivespirometer by the nursing staff. A member of the staff will show you how to use your incentivespirometer.

Using the incentive spirometer will force you to take the deep breaths necessary to expand the smallair sacs of your lungs and help clear the air passages of mucous.

We recommend that you use your incentive spirometer 10 times every hour while awake, both after surgery and while at home.

With the unit in an upright position, exhale normally,then place your lips tightlyaround the mouthpiece.

To achieve a slow SustainedMaximal Inspiration (SMI)…inhale to raise the ball.

Exhale…

After performing exercises,remove the mouthpiece from your lips and exhale normally.

Then Relax…

Following each prolonged deep breath, take amoment to rest and breathe normally.

Help Prevent Lung Problems


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Questions I Want AnsweredPlease write you questions here, whenever they arise. Then address themwith your care providers at any of your meetings or appointments.

Coughing: Another excellentway to help breathe and clearyour lungs.Coughing is, of course, one of nature’s impor-tant methods for clearing your lungs any time…not just after surgery.

• Breathe in deeply through your nose.

• Hold your breath and count to five.

• Breathe out slowly through your mouth.

• On the fifth deep breath, cough from yourabdomen as you breathe out.

• Make a habit of doing this two to threetimes hourly, especially when it is inconven-ient to use your incentive spirometer.

Anticoagulation TherapyPhlebitis (inflammation of the veins of the legs)or Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT), which refersto blood clotting in the veins of the leg, arepossible risks after total joint replacement surgery.

To prevent these problems after surgery, manypatients will be prescribed an oral anticoagu-lant. The purpose of an oral anticoagulant is toprevent your blood from clotting.


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Orthopedic Patient Discharge Planning InformationPLEASE COMPLETE AND BRING WITH YOU TO THE

HOSPITAL ON THE DAY OF YOUR SURGERY

Last Name: First Name:

County in which you reside:

Who will be your support person in your home?

Do you have transportation home after surgery?

Which Pharmacy do you use?

Do you have any durable medical equipment already in your home (walkers, crutches, canes,

commodes etc.)?

Number of steps into your home:

Layout of your home (bathroom downstairs, upstairs, bedroom downstairs, upstairs etc):

Do you currently or have you had home care services in the past?

Home Care Agency preference:

Skilled Rehabilitation Nursing Facility preferences:



Our MissionSt. Peter’s Health Care Services, acting in theCatholic tradition of the Religious Sisters ofMercy, is a community of persons committed tobeing a transforming, healing presence withinthe communities we serve.

• We treat all persons with dignity, hospitality and compassion, calling forth their besthuman potential.

• We provide comprehensive services that sup-port healthy communities, including qualitymedical care with holistic approaches to heal-ing body, mind and spirit.

• We care for and strengthen the ministry andall resources entrusted to us.

• We advocate for accessible health care andquality of life for all, especially those who arepoor.

• We respond with courage and integrity toneeds for services in a rapidly changinghealth care environment.

Our Core ValuesCompassion – We share the suffering of others;showing empathy and concern for anyone indistress and responding kindly and sensitively.

Reverence For Each Person – We show respectand consideration for each person, affirming thesacredness of human life.

Community – We demonstrate our interde-pendence through inclusive and compassionaterelationships.

Hospitality – We create an environment wherepersons feel welcome and included, striving tomeet perceived as well as expressed needs.

Excellence – We take pride in our work, contin-uously improving our skills and abilities so thatour distinctive service benefits those we serveand with whom we work.

Integrity – We keep our word and are faithfulto who we say we are.

Courage – We dare to take the risks our beliefsdemand of us.

Introduction…1

Letter from St. Peter’s Orthopedic Team…2

Choosing St. Peter’s…3

Telephone InterviewConfirming Your Surgery

Welcome to St. Peter’s Total Joint Program…4

RoundingLet Us Know What How We Are Doing

What to Bring to the Hospital…5

Planning Your Hospital Stay…5

Planning Your Discharge…6

Short-Term (Sub-Acute) Rehabilitation…6

St. Peter’s Nursing & RehabilitationCenterOur Lady of Mercy Life Center…7

Nutrition…8

Your Day of Surgery…8

Initial Recovery…8

Pain Management Program…9

Recovery and Rehabilitation…10

Help Prevent Circulation Problems…11

Help Prevent Lung Problems…12

Anticoagulation Therapy…13

Questions I Want Answered…14

Orthopedic Patient Discharge Planning Information Form…15

Table of Contents


315 South Manning BoulevardAlbany, New York 12208

Your Total JointReplacement Surgery


Documents

Your Total Joint Replacement Surgery · 2012-03-20 · • Patient’s Guide to Total Joint Replacement. • A list of the medications you have been tak-ing (include any you may have