Outpatient Total Joint Replacement Surgery

knee replacement

Is your knee or hip pain unbearable, but you just don’t want to spend four or five days in a hospital? South Shore Health now offers outpatient total joint replacement surgery.  Knee replacements, hip replacements, and shoulder replacements historically have required extended stays in the hospital.  Now, thanks to the expert orthopedic surgeons and advanced surgical program available at South Shore Health, patients can safely leave either South Shore Hospital in Weymouth or the Center for Orthopedics, Spine, and Sports Medicine in Hingham hours after their surgery to recover in the comfort of their home.   

The Right Fit

Same-day joint replacement surgery is a safe option for patients who are otherwise healthy and active. There are minimal medical risks associated with recuperating at home. Studies show surgery outcomes are the same between patients who recover in the hospital and at home. You could be a candidate for outpatient total knee replacement, hip replacement, or shoulder replacement – in surgery in the morning and home for dinner with your new joint —the same day! Call South Shore Orthopedics at 781-337-5555 to make an appointment. 

outpatient hip repalcement
Listen to patient Paula K. shares her experience with same-day hip replacement surgery.

Technological enhancements and advancements make same-day total joint replacement surgeries possible. These include targeted anesthesia, pre-operative preparation, personalized pain management, and intensive therapy regimens. 

 

Thorough patient education is crucial to the success of total joint replacement surgery, both for patients staying overnight and at home. Because same-day patients leave the hospital after their surgeries, South Shore Health has a mandatory joint replacement class before the surgery to prepare patients for their operation. Research and experience show that educating joint replacement patients prior to surgery helps them achieve positive outcomes. The more that joint replacement patients know about preparing for surgery, hospitalization, and recovery, the more comfortable they are with undergoing the procedure, and the better they are able to be active participants in the entire process. We have developed a pre-operative Total Joint Replacement Class that explains in detail what you can expect before, during, and after your joint replacement surgery. We highly recommend that both you and your care plan partner attend our Total Joint Replacement Class. It will give you the opportunity to learn more about your surgery and recovery, as well as have any questions and concerns addressed. Our class is designed to cover basic information about joint anatomy and the specifics of total joint replacement surgery, as well as information about pre-operative testing and what to expect during and after your hospital stay. The class will also review pre- and post-operative exercises, and will demonstrate medical adaptive equipment, such as walkers. Our goal is to prepare you for surgery and help you understand your role as an active participant in your recovery and rehabilitation. Here’s what to expect: 
■ We will discuss your upcoming procedure, including your pre-operative visit, surgical procedure, and hospital stay.
■ We will explain how to prevent post-operative complications.
■ We will prepare you to take an active role in your discharge planning and post-operative rehabilitation.
■ We will help decrease your fear and anxiety about total joint replacement surgery.
■ Plan to attend class for two to three weeks prior to your surgery. Class will be scheduled for you when your surgery is scheduled.

Care providers will go back over post-care instructions again on the day of their surgery, before the operation, to ensure patients have all the information and support they need for a successful recovery. Care instructions won’t be given after surgery because patients are usually groggy from anesthesia. Instead, the focus is for them to safely get home and rest.

Personal pain management medications are coordinated with your doctors and your care team. Outpatients receive individual care and medications from the same team that monitors patients recovering in the hospital. There is no difference in the level of care for patients recovering in the hospital and at home. 

South Shore Health’s Physical Therapy and Wellness is where post-surgical patients connect for rehabilitation. South Shore VNA (Visiting Nurse Association) delivers physical and occupational therapy directly to patients in their own homes. Beyond in-home care, South Shore Health offers classes, aqua therapy, and nutrition resources to heal, strengthen, and nurture the body.

South Shore Health recognizes who is caring for you is just as important as how they do it.  Our fellowship-trained surgeons have trained at the world's best institutions. Your surgeon provides your care. Also, all of the nurses on this team are orthopedically trained, rounding out a highly-qualified surgical team. 

Post-operation, our South Shore VNA nurses, as well as our occupational and physical therapists, are highly skilled at helping patients safely become active again, without pain. From pre-operative assessments to cutting-edge surgery, to personal in-home care, to outpatient rehabilitation, South Shore Health delivers a comprehensive, full spectrum of care, As One.

Your Home Team

Getting proper physical therapy, occupational therapy, and discharge instructions are critical to recovery – and so is a social support network of family members and friends. All surgical patients benefit from having a support network to assist with meals, household chores, exercises, and transportation to and from physical therapy appointments.

Healing at home provides many benefits for patients. Restful sleep in the patient’s own bed comes without the noise and monitors of a hospital stay. 

Patients also benefit from being around their loved ones who know how to comfort them best. Round-the-clock care team members are available to offer support and answer any questions and concerns that may arise.

South Shore Health offers two beautiful, convenient locations with cutting-edge expertise right in your backyard. 

South Shore Hospital at 55 Fogg Road in Weymouth offers a Level II Trauma Center with expert orthopedic surgeons for emergencies.  South Shore Hospital is a Blue Cross Blue Shield Distinction Center + for spine surgery. In addition, South Shore Hospital’s Emerson-5 designated inpatient unit is an American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) Nursing Magnet designation. 

The Center for Orthopedics, Spine, and Sports Medicine at 2 Pond Park in Hingham offers a top-tier facility staffed with an extensive team of surgical, pain management, orthopedic, podiatric, diagnostic imaging, and rehabilitation experts who specialize in treating a broad range of musculoskeletal conditions.  Both locations offer the South Shore a less stressful surgical experience without the hassle of driving to­--and parking in—Boston. 

South Shore Health is here for delivering the best care for total joint replacement surgical patients, and that means getting them home to their loved ones faster, and then rehabilitated so they can get back to doing what they love with their loved ones quicker.