Saint Clare's Hospital Earns Gold Seal of Approval and Disease-Specific Certification for Hip and Knee Replacement

Saint Clare’s has earned the Gold Seal of Approval and Disease-Specific Certification from The Joint Commission for Hip and Knee Replacement.  The quality certification was awarded by demonstrating compliance with The Joint Commission’s national standards for health care quality and safety in disease-specific care, including program management, delivering or facilitating clinical care, supporting self management, clinical information management, and performance measurement.  Click here to learn more about this recognition.

Center for Joint Replacement

Is that trick knee causing you problems? Is the pain of arthritis in your hip having an impact on your daily life? If so, you may be a candidate for joint replacement surgery. Each year, about 779,000 Americans have a hip or knee replaced. Research has proven that even if you are older, joint replacement can help you move around and feel better.  The replacement of joints, especially the hip or knee, is becoming increasingly more common. The Center for Joint Replacement, located at Saint Clare's Hospital/Denville, utilizes a comprehensive care program designed to get patients back on their feet quickly.

Joint replacement patients receive coordinated care that emphasizes education and teamwork. The Center is focused on an integrated program of surgery, rehabilitation, and recovery, with staff that provide a high level of personal care in a supportive atmosphere. The result is a winning combination that works! Read one of our patient's stories to learn about their experience at the Center for Joint Replacement.

Overview

Comprehensive Guidebook: Each patient receives their own copy of the Guidebook for Hips or Guidebook for Knees, depending on their procedure. This Guidebook provides practical information for patients and includes Frequently Asked Questions, a Pre-Surgical Checklist, Pre- and Post-Surgical Exercises with photos, and other useful information to help prepare for, during and after surgery. This guidebook is provided to you by your doctor’s office.  If you do not receive a copy from them, please contact us to obtain one.

Pre-Operative Educational Class: In class, you will learn about the preoperative, surgical and postoperative process. We encourage a family member or a friend to participate in the class and also support the patient during recovery in the hospital and at home. The class is taught by a registered nurse and a physical therapist who will be caring for you on the floor after your surgery. It is nice to see familiar faces and to know who to contact when you have questions. The combination of the Guidebook and Pre-Operative education class offer patients the necessary reinforcement and peace-of-mind to approach surgery with confidence. 

Orthopedic Nurse Navigator: The orthopedic nurse navigator plays an active role in helping our patients through the preoperative, surgical, and postoperative care. The orthopedic nurse navigator is immediately accessible to patients and their goal is to ensure that each patient has the best possible experience at the Center for Joint Replacement. 

Surgery on Monday or Tuesday: Surgery is performed on Monday or Tuesday, allowing patients to move through a carefully designed course of treatment. A four-day hospital stay is typical. Patients having surgery on Monday are traditionally discharged on Thursday, and patients with a Tuesday surgery are often discharged on Friday.

Designated Inpatient Area: The Center for Joint Replacement is located on the surgical nursing unit on the fourth floor of Saint Clare's Hospital/Denville.

Specialized Nurses and Therapy Staff: A multidisciplinary team of experienced, skilled, and specially trained nursing and physical/occupational therapy staff provide care to our total joint replacement patients. 

Pain Management: Patients recovering from joint replacement surgery will experience varying degrees of pain. Our Pain Specialist, an anesthesiologist, makes daily rounds on each of our joint replacement patients to monitor medication effectiveness and patient pain levels. Saint Clare's is committed to the ongoing monitoring of pain levels and to providing the appropriate type and amount of medication to make our patients comfortable.

Individualized Therapy Care: Each patient receives a thorough initial evaluation by our physical and occupational therapists on the day of surgery. Therapy continues for three times each day. Our therapy team carefully considers the needs, lifestyle and comfort level of each patient as they determine the best course of rehabilitative therapy. Post-operative rehabilitation occurs on a one-to-one basis at your bedside and includes gait, transfer and balance training, as well as a thorough review of available adaptive equipment.

Personal Recovery "Coach": We encourage patients to select a family member or friend to act as a "coach" during the recovery process. Family members and coaches are encouraged to participate in our preoperative education class as well as physical therapy sessions in order to provide support, encouragement, and help the patient reach his or her goals.

A Mission Brought to Life – Saint Clare’s 24/7
Learn more about orthopedics at Saint Clare’s by viewing our documentary,  A Mission Brought to Life – Saint Clare’s 24/7. Take a behind-the-scenes look at Saint Clare’s Health System through the words of Saint Clare’s doctors, nurses, and emergency responders.

For more information on the Center for Joint Replacement, or to determine whether you're a candidate for joint replacement surgery, contact your orthopedic specialist or call 973-983-5581 to speak with the orthopedic nurse navigator. You may also fill out our Online Inquiry Form.