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Faith Regional Preadmission Process Seamless for Orthopaedic Patients
Creating efficiencies for our orthopaedic patients has been on the top of many minds at Faith Regional for several months now. That’s all about to change beginning this month with the implementation of the Orthopaedics In Motion Preadmission Class.
If you talk to Stephen Smith, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon in Norfolk, he’ll tell you that, “It was necessary to create a seamless experience for the orthopaedic patient — from the physician’s office through rehabilitation.”
Last November, a Preadmission Testing (PAT) committee was formed with representation from first floor nursing, all physical rehabilitation departments and surgical departments, guest services, many allied health departments, nutrition, education and marketing. The committee was asked to develop an interdisciplinary approach for Total Joint Replacement patients.
Currently, the hospital’s orthopaedic program reports excellent patient outcomes and offers a more comprehensive orthopaedic program, not just limited to being a “joint center” as so many other hospitals have done, according to Rachel Nelson, RN, an orthopaedic case manager. The committee’s challenge related directly to how patients were being processed prior to surgery.
Until now, if you were a patient having total joint replacement done at this hospital, you could expect to spend several hours in the preadmission process, according to Nelson.
“We are limited in space when accommodating surgical patients and doing preadmission workup on orthopaedic patients,” said Nelson. “At times we have had to move to the back hallway to interview the patients. Sometimes a surgical patient would be wheeled past to the operating room, so patient privacy became an issue.”
In 2005, Dr. Smith performed 350 total joint surgeries at Faith Regional, a number that surpasses volumes for the same procedures done at other major hospitals in Nebraska. The volume of surgical patients at Faith Regional has continued to increase as well.
Through the implementation of the PAT classes, the committee has been able to develop a streamlined system that benefits our orthopaedic patients by creating:
- An interdisciplinary approach bringing all disciplines together at one time for patient education.
- An excellent environment to present information.
- Less distraction and noise reducing unnecessary stress for patient.
- Efficiencies for hospital employees.
The PAT classes will be held every Monday at the Health Resource Center beginning April 3. Lunch will be provided and patients will be learn about what they can expect with their surgery experience and get tests completed that same day.
“Better educated patients have better outcomes,” added Dr. Smith. “We want to make this experience effortless for them.”
Last Updated: 4/11/2006
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