Few procedures can improve quality of life like orthopedic surgery.
If you were born between 1946 and 1964, you’re a member of a unique group of people: the baby boomers. And while you may not realize it, you’re having a staggering impact on healthcare, and more specifically, orthopedics. Your active lifestyle is pushing the boundaries of technology, care delivery, recovery, rehabilitation, and even the physical environment of surgical and post-surgical patient care.
Hips, shoulders and aching knees are no longer just an issue for the elderly. According to the Centers for Disease Control, 719,000 total knee replacements were performed across the United States in 2010, along with another 332,000 total hip replacements—and estimates suggest total knee replacements will soar to 3.48 million by the year 2030. Why such growth? Because not many procedures can improve quality of life the way orthopedic surgery can.
At UnityPoint Health-Methodist l Proctor, the finest surgeons, nurses, and clinical and support staff provide high-quality, advanced care in orthopedics. But don’t take our word for it! Methodist is ranked “High Performing in Orthopedics” in U.S. News and World Report’s 2013-2014 America’s Best Hospitals, and not only that, it boasts the area’s highest patient satisfaction rating and received a Five Star Excellence Award for Total Hip Replacement.
“We continually look for opportunities to make the patient experience the absolute best possible,” says Jennifer Schrock-McAfee RN, BSN, ONC, nurse manager of the Orthopedic/Neurosurgical Spine Unit on the Methodist campus. “We’ve increased the number of discharges by 11am in the total hip and total knee population by 10 percent in one month of implementation, utilizing ‘Lean’ principles. We’ve also decreased total knee replacement length of stay and decreased the readmission rate.”
Ranking among the top 10 percent in the nation for joint replacement, Proctor received the Healthgrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award in 2014, and was a Five-Star recipient for total knee and hip fracture treatment. Proctor has also been designated a Blue Distinction Center+ by BlueCross and Blue Shield of Illinois, with a proven track record for delivering better results—including fewer complications and readmissions—than hospitals without such recognitions.
“As joint-replacement patients get younger, our focus has turned to faster recovery times and getting patients back to their lives as quickly as possible,” says Diane Gomez, RN, nurse manager of the Orthopedic/Neurological Unit at UnityPoint Health-Proctor. “What used to be a hospital stay of three to 10 days has been shortened to as little as 24 to 36 hours in some cases. For those patients who require a little extra time, we also have the Skilled Nursing Unit where patients can receive more extensive therapy to get back on their feet.”
And that’s exactly what this growing group of patients seek: better outcomes and shorter stays. Baby boomers are a tough and demanding crowd... One thing we know for certain, they aren’t shy about what they want. They want to enjoy life—and so should you. iBi
