Providence Health Center 

DePaul Center

Providence Home Care

Providence Park 

   Providence Foundation

       Providence Health Alliance 

Having a knee, hip or shoulder replaced is no picnic. But at Providence Health Center in Waco, Texas, patients are made to feel like they’re spending a day at the park.

The only program of its kind in Central Texas, Providence Health Center’s ‘Joint Camp’ opened for business in July of 2002. “The entire program is focused around a series of specific events that emphasize patient education, therapy, and fun,” says Joint Camp Nurse, Tamie Samford. “Our goal is both clinical excellence and patient satisfaction.”

Total hip and knee replacement patients in the Joint Camp program stay in a unit dedicated to caring just for them. The unit is fully equipped with walkers, stairs and a curb and ramp to aid in the recovery process. “Not only do patients love it,” says Annette Ayers, Vice President for Patient Care, “Joint Camp has reduced length of stay, improved pain management, and patients are functioning at a much higher level than before.

Not Your Typical Hospital Visit
Joint Camp is a comprehensive and coordinated effort that involves everyone from admissions clerks and lab personnel to nurses and dietary staff. It begins by setting up patient expectations prior to admission, includes group interaction and therapy, and ends with ‘popcorn and icecream floats’ meant to motivate even the most non-compliant patient.

“A patient’s introduction to Joint Camp happens the week before surgery,” Samford explains. “During a short orientation, they are introduced to each other as well as the occupational therapists, physical therapists  and Samford leads them through a notebook filled with pre and post-op expectations, information about medications, and other important guidelines. The entire orientation lasts about an hour and a half. Patients who attend are then admitted the following week and are incorporated into the Joint Camp program.

Throughout the program, patients are introduced to a variety of education materials and therapies. Colorful wallboards show patients what their scar will look like during the healing process.

After surgery, patients are taken to one of 13 private rooms specifically designated for Joint Camp. There, they receive specialized nursing attention. “Our Joint Camp nurses work twelve hour shifts to improve continuity of care,” says Samford, “and they do more than just make the patient feel comfortable.” Patients are dressed in their own clothes each day. “Based on the program’s schedule, we get the patients up and out of bed  the day after surgery for therapy,” Samford says, “and the recovery process is underway.”

On Thursday of each week, Joint Camp patients are invited to a Popcorn, ice cream sundae celebration day. “We let them invite friends and family.  “We take their photos behind our red cadillac,” adds Samford.

The program includes follow-up care as well. Samford makes follow-up calls to each patient after discharge, and again several weeks after discharge. According to feedback from surgeons and office managers, this step has reduced the office phone volume in doctor’s offices by answering questions prior to discharge.