St. Joe's Integrated Comprehensive Care Program
A program at St. Joe’s is improving patient care and breaking down barriers for total joint replacements. St. Joe’s Integrated Comprehensive Care (ICC) Program provides patients with a single contact, who guides them through their hip or knee replacement surgery. The process of this program allows more of a one-on-one relationship between the patient and their healthcare team to ensure a smooth and quick recovery.
The ICC program is currently in a test phase, however it has already been extended once because of its great success, and staff and patients hope to see the program become permanent. Clinicians such as Josie Knox, the coordinator of the project specific to joint replacement, helps patients to prepare their homes before surgery. Steps the healthcare team would advise to help patients modify their homes include moving cords and rugs to avoid tripping.
One patient involved in the ICC program, Aureade Massy had her knee replaced and for her, being back behind the wheel was top priority. In order for patients to have a quick recovery, they must make sure that they keep moving. “If you leave things up to me if it comes to exercise, I will put it off and put it off and put it off” says Massy. As part of the ICC program, exercise to improve recovery is a priority. “You risk the joint not working and seizing up, essentially and if you don’t use it, you lose it” says Knox.
A year after her surgery, Massy is driving again and scheduled to have her left knee replaced in September, and hopes to have just as smooth of a transition.
Every week St. Joe’s performs 10 to 15 joint replacements and the amount is increasing due to the aging population.