Recovering from Joint Replacement at The Orthopedic Center

Our comprehensive joint replacement recovery program is based on a national best practice model for hip and knee replacements. It is structured around the fundamental principles of wellness. The program incorporates education, family involvement, and early mobility in addition to minimally invasive and analgesic techniques to help patients return to their homes as soon as possible after surgery. The hospitals that implement this program—with the support of their physicians—report superior surgical outcomes.

What Happens Before My Joint Replacement Surgery?

We believe that hip replacement and knee replacement patients experience better outcomes when you have a thorough understanding of what to expect during and after your joint replacement surgery. Knowing what to expect each step of the way can help reduce stress and anxiety and prepare you for a smooth recovery process.

To help educate patients, prior to surgery we provide you with a Patient Guidebook as well as an informative pre-op class for you and your family members who will caring for you. The Orthopedic Center also offers community outreach seminars and educational displays to help answer the most frequently asked questions about joint replacement surgery.

Depending on your individual condition, your surgeon also may recommend physical therapy or special strengthening exercises in the weeks leading up to surgery to ensure you are as strong as possible to facilitate recovery. He also may talk with you about weening off or reducing your use of pain medications as research has shown that use of opioids prior to surgery can make the body less responsive to pain medication after surgery. Quitting smoking and maintaining level blood sugar if you are diabetic helps decrease the risk of infection after surgery.

What Will Happen After My Joint Replacement Surgery?

After surgery, hip and knee replacement recovery begins. Patients are transferred into our dedicated inpatient unit at Penn Highlands DuBois, called The Orthopedic Center. Here, you will receive educational, medical, and rehabilitation services during their stay.

The Orthopedic Center follows a unique staffing model that integrates education, personal coaching, and clinical excellence under a common goal of rapid recovery and improved quality of life. Our staff has been hand-picked for their positive attitudes, motivational skills, and their desire to provide outstanding service. In addition, they have been specially trained to provide comprehensive clinical care for patients undergoing this important procedure. Even our volunteers have special training in knee and hip replacement recovery.

While at The Orthopedic Center, our goal is to get you up and moving as quickly and as much as possible. Exercise and therapy sessions are provided in a group setting, so that patients can support and encourage each other on the road to recovery. Based on shared experiences, new friendships are made, which enhances the healing process.

Why Choose The Orthopedic Center for My Hip or Knee Replacement Recovery?

The Orthopedic Center is designed to make patients feel as though they are in the comfort of their own homes. There’s a large group room where patients gather to dine and for educational programs and support groups. The therapy gym also is located within the unit, so patients don’t have far to go for their physical therapy, which is one of the most important steps on the road to fast recovery.

Patients recovering at The Orthopedic Center wear their own clothes—no hospital gowns for this crowd—and family members are encouraged to participate in group activities, meals, and other special events and activities designed to lift patients’ spirits.

We know you have a choice of where to go for your hip or knee replacement surgery. We have created The Orthopedic Center as a dedicated place with dedicated staff to ensure recovering patients are as comfortable as possible.