Verde Valley Medical Center’s Joint Replacement Program (JRP) is receiving world-wide recognition in a medical research article recently published on BioMedCentral.com. The article was written by Jack Wylie, M.D., VVMC Medical Staff member and orthopedic surgeon; Jon Cook, D.P.T., coordinator of VVMC’s JRP; and Paul Prefontaine, P.T., director of VVMC’s EntireCare Rehab & Sports Medicine department, with assistance from Meghan Warren, Ph.D., and Kathleen Ganley, Ph.D., of Northern Arizona University.

The article presents results of research into the high success rate of the VVMC Joint Replacement Program which has been shown to decrease length of hospital stay, decrease complication rate, increase speed of rehabilitation, and improve range of motion. Patients involved in the program also have shown improvement in walking distance and decrease in pain in as little as six weeks after surgery.

Knee and hip replacement surgery as treatment for different types of arthritis is one of the most commonly performed orthopaedic surgeries in the world today. Due to the high volume of people requiring this surgery in the Verde Valley, VVMC started its Joint Replacement Program six years ago. Since then, it has gained national recognition as a center of excellence for its outstanding patient results. The program is wellness-oriented, for otherwise healthy individuals who need hip or knee surgery. It focuses on preoperative education, state of the art surgical techniques, skilled nursing care, and focused pain management strategies. Advanced physical therapy includes a focus on restoring independence as soon as possible.

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