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Pre Surgical Education Services - PREP Program
Each year, more than 435,000 Americans have Joint Replacement Surgery for a hip or knee. Joint replacement can relieve pain and enable individuals to live more active lives. If you and your orthopedic surgeon have decided that you are a good candidate for Joint Replacement Surgery, you will need time to prepare, both physically and psychologically. By planning ahead, you can help with your surgery and recovery.
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa’s Pre Surgical Education Program (PREP) will help prepare you for Joint Replacement Surgery in the following ways:
- Understanding your Procedure
- Assembling your Medical Information
- Getting in Shape for Surgery
- Planning Ahead for Going Home
- Medical Preparations
- Facing your Fears
The PREP program provides an overview of what to expect. The Pre Surgical Education Program will answer questions like:
How are my joints supposed to work?
The PREP program will show you a working model of a normal knee and hip joint, compared to models of joints that no longer function properly.
Why do I feel pain?
Your pain started when your joints began to function improperly. The PREP program explains how we strive to alleviate that pain through Joint Replacement Surgery.
Why do I need this surgery?
The PREP program will educate you in the many advantages of surgery. You will leave knowing much more than you imagined about your procedure, such as:
- Tools used and components introduced during Joint Replacement Surgery.
- Description of the proposed incision.
- Step-by-step details of the procedure.
Most importantly, PREP will help to calm your fears. Fear is your greatest obstacle to a successful procedure and a speedy recovery. That is why we invest so much time in our effort to eliminate your fears, by answering these and other most frequently asked questions:
- What quality of life can I expect after surgery?
- What might go wrong?
- What are the prolonged effects of anesthesia?
- Could I get an infection?
- What about blood clots?
- What if my implant loosens, dislocates, wears out, or breaks?
PREP will help you prepare, before and after surgery.
Having surgery does not have to be an overwhelming experience. Good planning and knowing what is expected of you will help make the process much easier. You will get answers to these questions:
- How should I prepare for surgery?
- What happens after surgery?
- Who are those people who make me move?
Working to regain your lifestyle and getting you back on your feet.
During your stay at the hospital and after you go home, you will have access to excellent care from experienced professionals. After surgery, physical therapists and occupational therapists will work with you to get you moving. When it is time to leave the surgical recovery floor, you will have several options. Your options will be explained to you in a way that will help determine the right level of care for you.
Assisting with your recovery.
A licensed social worker and members of your treatment team will discuss options for your recovery. If you need assistance with specialized services or with getting equipment, PREP helps to arrange these for you.
PREP offers care from nurses who specialize in rehabilitation, physical therapists, The Rehabilitation Institute at CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Hospital – New Braunfels, occupational therapists led by a Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation Physician, as well as your orthopedic surgeon.
- 24 hour care, with several hours dedicated to therapy
- Group therapy
CHRISTUS Santa RosaCare
- Home health care
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Skilled nursing
CHRISTUS Santa Rosa Sports Fitness and Rehabilitation
- Outpatient physical therapy
- Aquatic therapy
- Specialized treatment plans Rehabilitation Center
Preparing You For Success
As a participant in PREP, you will:
- Pre-register for surgery.
- Meet members of your medical team - nurses, therapists, and social workers.
- Become familiar with the hospital.
- Receive an educational notebook on the joint replacement process, including anatomy and surgical procedure.
- Learn and perform techniques to prepare for surgery with demonstration of exercises to strengthen your joint.
- Have knowledge of post-surgical recovery and pain management.
- Receive educational materials for caregivers on expectations and how they can help after surgery.
- Receive advanced planning for discharge, following surgery.
- Participate in a question and answer session with previous joint replacement patients.
PREP is offered on Fridays, from 8:00 to 11:00 a.m. on the second floor of McKenna Professional Building 1. Please call the course facilitator at 830.624.8319 to register.
Contact Us
For more information please email rehab@christussantarosa.org.
