 You can expect to be in the hospital for about 3-4 days following your
joint replacement surgery. Although we will do everything we can to
support your recovery process, you may need help when you return home.
The Total Joint Program Educator will contact you before your surgery to
discuss your specific needs and concerns, review your options for care
after discharge, and begin planning for your discharge. She will
communicate your needs with the Case Manager on the orthopedic unit to
help provide a smooth transition after you leave the hospital. Someone
from Case Management may contact you before your surgery to review your
options further.
If you return home after your hospital stay, your therapy options
include either home health or outpatient therapy. Other options include
acute or sub-acute rehab facilities or skilled nursing care facilities.
The choice of discharge options depends on your health insurance
coverage, how you progress in the hospital, availability of services
such as rehab beds, family support, your home environment, other health
conditions, and the preferences of you and your physician. The Case
Manager will work with you, your physician, and other health care team
members to make arrangements for your hospital discharge.
Whether you return home or go to a rehab facility it is helpful to
identify a specific support person such as a spouse or an adult child
that we can communicate with about your discharge arrangements. The
Joint Replacement Program Educator and your Case Manager will ask you
for a name and phone number for your support person. If you plan to go
home after your hospital stay it would be helpful to identify who will
be available to help with things like cooking, cleaning, and
transportation for the first week or two at home. If you live alone and
have a limited support system, other arrangements will need to be
considered.
Equipment items such as a walker or elevated commode chair, will be
arranged for you by the Nurse Case Manager if you are being discharged
to your home. If you have had a total knee replacement your physician
may want you to continue using your Continuous Passive Motion (CPM)
Machine at home. This will be sent home with you at discharge. If you need to
contact the hospital Case Manager about other discharge arrangements,
you may do so Monday through Friday at (770) 991-8321. If you have any
questions about the information in your education booklet you may
contact the Joint Replacement Program Educator at (770) 991-8054. |