It’s
called elective surgery. But
joint or spine surgery rarely seems
optional for anyone grappling with
problems such as degenerative disc
disease or severe arthritis in a hip
or knee. In those cases, surgery can
often help relieve pain, improve
function and restore quality of life.
If you’re considering joint or spine
surgery, you should know about the
award-winning
Center for Joint
and SpineHealth
at Mercy Medi-
cal Center Redding. The center has
earned a reputation for delivering
high-quality orthopaedic care. In
fact, it exceeds national patient
satisfaction rates and has lower-
than-average complication rates.
“These ratings reflect our com-
prehensive and patient-centered
approach,” says Brad Jones, MD,
Orthopaedic Spine Surgeon and
Medical Director at the center.
That approach is based on three
elements. “Our quality is built on
education, dedication and cooper-
ation,” says Shawn Brubaker, DO,
Electing to feel better
How joint and spine surgery can help
Orthopaedic Surgeon and Medical
Director, Adult Reconstructive
Orthopaedics, Dignity Health
Medical Group North State.
Education
The education begins as soon as a
patient decides to have surgery. He
or she receives a guidebook that
acts as a text for the preoperative
class offered by the center. “In
class, we go over everything that is
going to happen, from preparing
for the surgery through the entire
year after the surgery,” says Kim-
ber Graves, RN, Clinical Coordina-
tor for Orthopaedics at the center.
All three of the Dignity Health
North State hospitals provide
extensive pre- and postoperative
orthopaedic care. However, the
Mercy Center for Joint and Spine
Health is the only stand-alone pro-
gram that includes group therapy
sessions, among other specialty
patient services. It has made a big
difference for our patients. “It may
seem simple, but the more infor-
mation we can give patients, the
fewer surprises they encounter,”
Dr. Brubaker says. “That makes for
a less stressful and more successful
experience for the patient.”
Dedication
The center functions as a hospital
within the hospital and has its own
designated resources. “We have our
own patient area, as well as specially
trained staff certified in all aspects
of orthopaedic care,”Dr. Jones says.
And that care doesn’t stop once
patients go home. Within 48 hours
after leaving the hospital, someone
from the center calls to see how
patients are doing. “We check in to
make sure they understand their
medications and are feeling OK,”
Graves says. “Our commitment to
follow-through helps prevent
post-op complications.”
Cooperation
Fewer complications mean fewer
readmissions. That’s just one of
the many quality goals important
to the center—goals that are
discussed when the staff meet
together twice a month. “As a team
we assess how our patients are do-
ing,” Dr. Brubaker says. “Then we
can determine what’s going well
and how we can better assist them
in their recovery.”
That teamwork helps keep
orthopaedic patients on the path
to wellness. And that is the
ultimate goal of the center.
Call
888.628.1948
anytime to schedule
a consultation with a Dignity Health orthopaedic
specialist.
ORTHOPAEDICS
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