St. Joe's joint center receives award
The Joint Wellness Center at St. Joseph's Medical Center has been recognized as one of 13 hospitals in the state for its work in hip and knee replacement.
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Staff and patients gathered Thursday for a social program at the hospital that included appropriately bone-shaped cookies.
Bone cookies helped celebrate The Joint Wellness Center's recognition from Blue Cross Blue Shield with volunteers, including Susan Barstow from the joint center, serving. Brainerd Dispatch/Renee Richardson » Purchase reprints of this photo.
The Joint Wellness Center, a collaboration between St. Joseph's Medical Center and Northern Orthopedics, was awarded the Blue Distinction Center for Hip and Knee Replacement by Blue Cross Blue Shield.
Jani Wiebolt, St. Joseph's Medical Center president, said more than 1,000 hip and knee replacement surgeries have been performed at the hospital since the Joint Wellness Center was founded in 2006. They included three members of her own family for a total of three knees and one hip.
Wiebolt said her father, a farmer who loves to dance, thought he would never dance again. He was up doing a shuffle dance two weeks after his surgery and is back to dancing at full speed.
Earl and Betty Lidholm of Baxter shared a laugh with Sheri Hemquist, physical therapy assistant, during a program Thursday at St. Joseph's Medical Center celebrating the Joint Wellness Center's recent award. Brainerd Dispatch/Renee Richardson » Purchase reprints of this photo.
The Blue Distinction Centers, the medical center reported, provide comprehensive inpatient knee and hip replacement services, including total knee and hip replacement surgeries.
St. Joseph's reported the Joint Wellness Center uses a team approach to replacing joints that brings together nurses, therapists, surgeons, anesthesiologists and surgery staff.
Dr. Paul Thompson, Northern Orthopedics, said patients have a direct input to the program's success.
From pre-surgery classes to a joint care coordinator, patients have assistance throughout the process - before, during and after surgery. Patients designate coaches to attend Joint Camp and to ensure they are keeping up with physical therapy at home.
Betty Lidholm of Baxter had a hip replaced two months ago. Her husband, Earl, served as her coach.
Before the surgery she suffered from a constant backache and numbness in her leg.
"The hip wasn't hurting as much as my back and my leg," she said. "But that is all gone. It's such a relief."
Lidholm had surgery in the morning and was on her feet that night. She started therapy the next day.
"It didn't really hurt," she said. "It was just a little uncomfortable."
She had a knee replaced previously.
"I'll be a bionic woman pretty soon," she recalled telling the medical staff. "It's remarkable what they can do for you now days."
Lidholm, 81, said her doctor, Christopher Metz, orthopedic surgeon at Northern Orthopedics, told her age wasn't a reason against the surgery as long as she was in good health.
"I'm a golfer," Lidholm said and smiled. "I even went dancing last Friday night."
Warren Barnes, 69, of Pillager fell into his hip replacement as he left a ladder and hit a concrete floor. Barnes had his hip replaced with Dr. Metz two months ago.
"It's been excellent," Barnes said. "I couldn't have better care."
Lidholm's hip was arthritic. The pain after the surgery lasted a couple of days, she said, but the benefits came in getting rid of the chronic pain she was dealing with every day.
"It was such a good feeling to get rid of the pain," Lidholm said. "I want others to know it's not that bad to get it done."
RENEE RICHARDSON may be reached at renee.richardson@brainerddispatch.com or 855-5852.