VALLEY BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER ONCE AGAIN AWARDED GOLD SEAL OF APPROVAL FOR HIP AND KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY

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1 PRESS Contact: RELEASE Teri Retana, Assistant Vice President for Strategic Marketing & Communication Valley Baptist Health System; Phone: (956) or VALLEY BAPTIST MEDICAL CENTER ONCE AGAIN AWARDED GOLD SEAL OF APPROVAL FOR HIP AND KNEE REPLACEMENT SURGERY Orthopedic Surgery at Valley Baptist helping many Valley patients to walk again without pain HARLINGEN, August Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen has been re-certified with a Gold Seal of Approval specifically for knee and hip replacement surgeries by a national accrediting organization for healthcare organizations, the Joint Commission. In 2011, the accrediting organization, which is based in Illinois. granted Valley Baptist the first-ever specialty certification in the Valley for knee and hip replacement. Knee and hip replacement surgery is performed at Valley Baptist for patients who have pain, discomfort, or loss of function because of arthritis, accidents, or other causes. Arthritis can eventually cause a joint to deteriorate or wear out to the point that partial or total replacement is necessary. The replacement surgery is designed to help restore the patient s ability to walk and relieve pain.

2 Valley Baptist is one of the most experienced hospitals in Texas in performing joint replacement surgeries. In fact, Dr. Rick Bassett, Orthopedic Surgeon and Medical Director of Valley Baptist-Harlingen s Orthopedics / Joint Replacement Program, has performed more than 12,000 knee replacement and 3,000 hip replacement surgeries at Valley Baptist. Last year, 1,061 joint replacement surgeries were performed at Valley Baptist. Valley Baptist s orthopedics department follows national standards to reduce the length of stay and risk of infections for patients hospitalized after orthopedic surgery. For example, patients are given antibiotics at optimum times to reduce the chance of infection. In addition, Valley Baptist s orthopedic surgery rooms are equipped with a sterile air flow system which reduces infections. Following joint replacement surgery, patients recover on a speciallyequipped orthopedics floor, with 39 large, private rooms, staffed by nurses experienced at caring for joint replacement patients. Overhead trapezes and bars above the patient beds help recovering patients by providing leverage when they are trying to move in their bed or get in or out of the bed. Once the patient is out of bed, they begin to walk again with assistance from physical therapists and side rails located along the hallways in the unit. Valley Baptist also offers comprehensive rehabilitation programs which range from an intensive inpatient rehabilitation program to outpatient services after discharge from the hospital. Physical therapy plays a major role in the recovery of orthopedic patients, with Valley Baptist patients receiving physical therapy twice a day. Maureen Rattray, RN, Nurse Director for the Valley Baptist s orthopedics floor, said the Joint Commission s Gold Seal of Approval program shows that Valley Baptist is using the most up-to-date care, by following scientifically-proven evidence-based guidelines to care for hip and knee patients. Valley Baptist holds weekly pre-operative Joint Camp classes to educate patients prior to their surgery and to prepare them for their hospital stay. Patients and family members are also taught how to care for themselves after they return home following discharge from the hospital. Mary Martinez, RN, Joint Care Coordinator for Valley Baptist, who follows patients from admission to discharge, teaches the classes in both English and Spanish every Tuesday and Friday at 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. for patients who have scheduled surgeries. Ms. Rattray said a major focus of Valley Baptist s joint replacement program is on managing pain for patients. Valley Baptist chaplains help by providing spiritual and emotional support for patients before and after their surgery.

3 We ve developed a nursing plan of care specifically for knee and hip replacements, Ms. Rattray added. The plan is individualized towards the needs of joint replacement patients, including post-operative care, patient mobility, infection prevention, and patient education. If we educate the patients, they become their own advocate and decision maker which helps in the recovery process. Also to aid in the recovery process, Valley Baptist encourages joint replacement patients to bring their own loose-fitting clothing from home, instead of wearing a hospital gown. This helps give them the sense that they are not sick overall their knees or hips might be but they are not, Ms. Rattray said. We believe this helps with their psychological well-being, gets them active again much sooner, and speeds up their recovery. Ms. Rattray said that a multi-disciplinary team helped make it possible for Valley Baptist to be re-certified with the Gold Seal of Approval for knee and hip replacement surgeries, with those contributing to the effort including Dr. Bassett, surgeons at Valley Baptist, the Valley Baptist administrative team; nursing staff, Valley Baptist s operating room and pre-admission testing and teaching staff, physical therapists, the Valley Baptist Case Management Department, dietary staff, core measures specialists at the hospital, environmental services staff, and engineering staff. Our dedicated and loyal staff work very hard each and every day kudos to them all, she added. For more information on knee, hip and other joint replacement procedures, please consult your physician and visit

4 PHOTO Dr. Rick Bassett, Orthopedic Surgeon, has performed more than 12,000 knee replacement and 3,000 hip replacement surgeries for Valley residents and visitors at Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen.

5 PHOTO Maria A. DeLeon of Brownsville walks again after knee replacement surgery with the help of specially-trained orthopedics nurses and other health professionals at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, including from the left, Samuel Sanchez, Patient Care Technician; Aileen Klusmann, Registered Nurse; Myrna Cuellar, Licensed Physical Therapy Assistant; and Maureen Rattray, RN, Nurse Director for the Valley Baptist s orthopedics unit.

6 PHOTO Donald Buckland of San Benito recovers from knee replacement surgery with the help of specially-trained orthopedics nurses and other health professionals at Valley Baptist Medical Center in Harlingen, including from the left, Mary Martinez, RN, Joint Care Coordinator for Valley Baptist; Aileen Klusmann, RN; Maureen Rattray, RN, Nurse Director for the Valley Baptist s orthopedics unit; and Samuel Sanchez, Patient Care Technician. Valley Baptist has become the first hospital south of San Antonio to be recertified specifically for knee and hip replacements by the Joint Commission, a national accrediting organization.