WILLAMETTE VALLEY MEDICAL CENTER JOINT REPLACEMENT INSTITUTE WINS TOP AWARD FOR DECREASED LENGTH OF PATIENT STAY
MCMINNVILLE, OR – The Willamette Valley Medical Center has been recognized for decreasing the average length of a patient’s stay in its Joint Replacement Institute by more than 25 percent and increasing the number of patients who are discharged home.
“The sooner patients are able to go home and get back to doing their regular activities, the better they feel and the better for their recovery,” explained Natalie Reed, joint care coordinator. “Strong emphasis on pre-operative education has made all of the difference. Patients and their families know what to expect and they are active participants in their recovery after surgery.”
Joint Replacement Institute staff was presented the award at the 2011 Marshall|Steele Musculoskeletal Service Line Summit, which included topics such as best practices for patient care and pain management.
The Institute was recognized for reducing the average length of stay for a patient’s stay in the hospital from 4.0 days to 2.93 days. It was also honored for increasing the percentage of patients who go directly home after surgery from 61% to 77% in the same time frame.
The Joint Replacement Institute at Willamette Valley Medical Center is a dedicated unit for patients who are recovering from hip and knee replacement surgery with specially trained nursing, therapy and volunteer staff.
Wellness is a primary focus of the program with strong emphasis on education, independence and pain management. While in the hospital, the patient’s daily schedule is coordinated between individual physical and occupational therapy, group exercise class, nursing care and patient/family education. Patients are encouraged to select a “coach,” typically a family member or friend, to provide encouragement, support and an added level of confidence for when the patient returns home.
For more information, please contact Natalie Reed at 503.435.6571.