Springfield, Pa. – The rehab specialists of Crozer-Keystone Health System focus on helping patients regain strength and motion, and relieve pain after undergoing joint replacement surgery.
“I had my knee replaced on April 1,” says Elizabeth Pisco, a recent joint replacement patient who received rehabilitation at Delaware County Memorial Hospital’s Rehab Unit. “I was released from the hospital on April 11, and was able to walk up the two flights of stairs in my home that day. The care I received was exceptional.” DCMH also offers outpatient physical and occupational therapy for sports medicine injuries, post-joint replacement surgery, neurological conditions and more at its Outpatient Center for Therapy and Sports Medicine facility. Speech therapy is offered at the hospital.
John Dempsey, who received a total knee replacement, says that no one can top the service he received at the Crozer-Chester Medical Center Outpatient Center for Therapy and Sports Medicine. “The staff takes a lot of time to explain the rehabilitation process thoroughly to their patients,” he adds. “Every time I finished a rehab session, I could feel the improvement that was made. I can’t say enough good things about them.”
“Patients receiving outpatient physical therapy after a joint replacement appreciate the individualized treatment program they receive at our facilities,” says Paul Van Thuyne, administrative director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Crozer-Chester Medical Center. “It is great to see patients continuously improving with every step they take.”
The Outpatient Centers for Therapy and Sports Medicine — located at Crozer, DCMH, the Healthplex® at Springfield Hospital, and the Taylor Made facility in Folsom — offer comprehensive outpatient therapy services. In addition, inpatient rehabilitation is offered on the Rehabilitation Units at Delaware County Memorial Hospital and Taylor Hospital.
“The joint replacement team first and foremost focuses on patient education through many avenues, including our joint class,” says Scott Law, administrative director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Taylor Hospital. “The entire team strongly believes that the more the patient knows, the better they will be able to face the challenges and changes that joint replacement surgery will make in their lives.” Joint classes are offered to Crozer, DCMH and Taylor patients prior to surgery to teach them what to expect of the entire surgical and rehabilitation experience.
During inpatient therapy sessions following surgery, starting as early as the day of surgery, patients begin the rehabilitation process. Starting as small as standing and taking a few steps away from the bed, patients are soon walking up and down the halls with a walker, building strength and getting used to their new joint(s).
Most patients with a single joint replacement are able to go home following surgery and receive rehabilitation through one of Crozer-Keystone’s Home Care departments. Home Care services are offered by Crozer, DCMH and Taylor. Patients receiving two joint replacements at the same time, or who have other medical conditions, often are admitted to inpatient rehabilitation units. The length of time a patient stays in an inpatient rehabilitation unit depends on many factors, including the severity of the joint problem prior to surgery and the patient’s age, health status, home environment, and family support. While in the hospital, the rehabilitation team includes a physiatrist (rehabilitation physician), nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, a social worker and/or a case manager and, if needed, psychiatrists/psychologists and other care providers.
Cecilia Lutz, who spent time on Taylor Hospital’s inpatient Rehabilitation Unit after having both knees replaced, rates her improvement at a perfect “100 percent” since having her surgery. Lutz spent four days in acute care at the Orthopedic Center at Taylor Hospital, where physical and occupational therapists helped her learn how to dress herself, get out of bed and up/down from chairs, walk with a walker, do steps, and stretch and strengthen her knees. She says, “I was dancing at my grandson’s wedding six weeks after surgery. I felt that I was well prepared for my surgery and what was to come afterward.”
”We are very proud of the outcomes we help our patients to achieve,” says Carol Seiverd, administrative director of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Delaware County Memorial Hospital. “The services we offer guide patients through their surgical experience, from the initial diagnosis through physical rehabilitation and beyond.”
“Our rehabilitation process focuses on a functional and individualized approach to care,” says Carla DeWald, administrative director Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Springfield Hospital. “Our physical therapists apply hands-on techniques in addition to specialized exercises and physical agents to address pain and swelling. Our occupational therapists help patients regain independence with everyday activities during the recovery process by using different adaptive equipment and techniques. Our high patient satisfaction scores across the system speak to the quality of the services we provide.”
“I went through three weeks of prehab before my surgery and six weeks of rehab after my knee replacement,” says Helen Jones, an outpatient rehab patient at Springfield Hospital’s Healthplex®. “Before the surgery, I was taught different exercises that would help in my recovery to make it easier for me to regain strength, and it did. My knees are fine, and I would definitely do it again.”
For more information about rehab services offered at Crozer-Keystone Health System, or to schedule an appointment with a Human Motion Institute physician, call 1-877-CK-MOTION (1-877-256-6846) or visit http://ckhshmi.crozer.org.
The Human Motion Institute is a comprehensive program of musculoskeletal services provided across the health system including orthopaedic/joint care, sports medicine, hand care, outpatient rehabilitation, foot/ankle care, and spine care. Services include surgery, therapy, education, medical management and more.
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