Charlene Peck writing for ”Cottage Country Now.Ca.” on Nov. 04, 2011 reports that the local hip, knee replacement wait times are second lowest in Ontario. The Parry Sound Joint Assessment Centre that officially opened November 3 at the West Parry Sound Health Centre (WPSHS), provides a central point of intake for patients suffering from hip and knee problems. In the past nine months 263 patients have been assessed.
A free service called OrthoConnect is helping patients scheduled for orthopaedic surgery to use their wait time to get informed.
The program provided through the Canadian Orthopaedic Foundation matches new patients referred for bone and joint surgery – and caregivers – with patients who have gone through a similar surgery. These volunteers can offer support in what to expect, how to prepare for surgery, and ideas on how to proceed to a speedy recovery.
They are trained to listen, support and encourage, as well as refer clients to community resources for information and assistance based on individual client needs and desires.
Rebecca Cutler, a physiotherapist who works at the Joint Assessment Centre at the West Parry Sound Health Centre often recommends arthritis patients use the service.
“If people are uncomfortable doing that, I still encourage them to talk to friends or acquaintances who have also gone through a hip or knee replacement,” she says. “I find that in a small town, people often have these unofficial self-help groups. I had one lady come in recently and said: “Oh I talked to everyone at the library that had had one. I like that – I think it really helps people going in, to have spoken to someone who has gone through it. Because it’s a big surgery and you don’t know.”
OrthoConnect enables patients to learn, understand and become comfortable with their upcoming surgery, supported by a person who knows what they’re going through.
“A live voice who understands just what you’re going through provides immeasurable comfort, yet is likely not available when your aching hip causes a sleepless night,” says volunteer and orthopaedic patient, Julie Gunn. “This website extends that live service to provide round-the-clock access to information and resources at your convenience.”
The website is currently featuring information for hip and knee replacements along with foot and ankle surgeries, and will expand to include all major surgery types including shoulder, spine, clubfoot and fractures.
Local wait times for knee and hip replacement surgery remain among the lowest in the province with help from a joint assessment centre that officially opened, November 3, at the West Parry Sound Health Centre (WPSHC).
In July, August and September, the local health centre had the second lowest wait times in the province for knee and hip replacement surgeries.
Based on the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care wait times – described as the number of days to complete the surgery for nine of ten patients – WPSHC had a wait time of 55 days for knee replacement surgery, the second lowest provincially, just behind Brantford General Hospital at 48 days. WPSHC’s wait time for hip replacement surgery also ranked second lowest in the province at 62 days, behind Brantford General Hospital’s 48 days.
“One of the strategies being used across the province to reduce the wait times, is through the establishment of joint assessment centres,” says Bruce Villella Wait Times Lead with the North East Local Health Integration Network (LHIN), pointing out that a significant reduction in wait times reduction was achieved in Sudbury with its joint assessment centre.
Villella says that since the joint assessment centre began operating in West Parry Sound in September 2010, there has been improvement in wait times for hip and knee replacement surgery.
“But on an already good rate,” he notes. “The wait time in Parry Sound was always very good, they managed to keep their wait way below the 182 day target set by the province, so we’ve never had an issue.”
If they are considered candidates for surgery and choose the local orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. William Smyth, they are usually seen by him that day. If hip or knee replacement, is the course of action agreed upon with the surgeon, the average local wait time for that surgery is four or five weeks.
“People see their family doctor, and they may be having problems with arthritis in their hip or their knee,” explains Rebecca Cutler, an advanced practice physiotherapist with the joint assessment centre at the West Parry Sound Health Centre.
“They would be referred to the joint assessment centre to assess the extent to which the arthritis is impacting mobility and determine readiness for a total knee or hip replacement. If surgery is not the best option, they are given options for conservative management of hip and knee arthritis. These options may include anti-inflammatory medications, corticosteroid injections, and/or physiotherapy and as an adjunct the LegTutor.
The LegTutor™ system has been developed to allow for functional rehabilitation of the lower extremity. The system consists of an ergonomic wearable leg brace and dedicated rehabilitation software. The LegTutor™ system allows for a range of biomechanical evaluation including speed, passive and active range of motion and motion analysis of the lower extremity. Quantitative biomechanical data allow for objective evaluation and rehabilitation treatment follow up. The LegTutor™ rehabilitation concept is based on performing controlled exercise rehabilitation practice at a patient customized level with real time accurate feedback on the patient’s performance. The exercises are designed in the form of challenging games that are suitable for a wide variety of neurological and orthopedic injury and disease.
The games challenge the patient to perform the exercise task to their best ability and to continue exercise practice.
The LegTutor™ allows for isolated and a combination of knee and three directional hip treatment. The system provides detailed exercise performance instructions and precise feedback on the patients exercise performance. Controlled exercise of multi joints within the normal movement pattern prevents the development of undesired and compensatory joint movement and ensures better performance of functional tasks.
The LegTutor™ system is used by many leading rehabilitation centers worldwide and has full FDA and CE certification. .
The newly developed LegTutor and its sister devices (ArmTutor,HandTutor, 3DTutor) have become a key system in neuromuscular rehabilitation and physical therapy. These innovative devices implement an impairment based program with augmented feedback and encourage motor learning through intensive active exercises. These exercises are challenging and motivating and allow for repetitive training tailored to the patient’s performance. The system also includes objective quantitative evaluations that provide the therapist information to customize the most suitable rehabilitation program to the patient’s ability. Currently part of the rehabilitation program of leading U.S. and foreign hospitals the Tutors are also used in clinics and at home through the use of telerehabilitation. See www.handtutor.com
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