Writer / Lynda Hedberg Thies
As we reach a certain age, people mistakenly feel that having joint stiffness and pain are a normal part of the aging process, but delaying treatment can actually cause further damage to your joints. Whether you have suffered a traumatic accident, have arthritis or a sports-related injury, you owe it to yourself to find a highly-skilled orthopedic joint specialist. Indiana University Health Saxony Hospital Orthopedics & Sports Medicine offers a Joint Replacement Program that is nationally and internationally recognized for its care, skill, research and positive patient outcomes.
Comprehensive Care, Best Outcomes
Dr. Michael Meneghini, the Director of Orthopedics & Joint Replacement at IU Health Saxony Hospital and also an Associate Professor of Orthopedic Surgery with IU School of Medicine, explains that the focus of their practice is to provide a high level of patient coordination so that patients can focus on their recovery. “We discuss every patient and offer the highest level of coordination of care unlike most places,” he says. That means that from the initial consultation to everyone involved in your care, whether it be the therapist, social worker, internists, surgeons, anesthesiologists and nurses participates, in weekly meetings. Patients do not have to repeat their story to every caregiver because they have already discussed it before you even arrive. This not only helps the patient experience but also minimizes errors and assists in assuring positive patient outcomes.
Teaching the Next Generation
Dr. Meneghini says, “Patients from throughout the country come to us for routine first time hip and knee replacements but also for corrective surgeries for procedures that were previously done and have not had a good outcome or their device is not working as it should be.” This customer-focused practice is obviously resonating with patients because their practice attracts patients from throughout the United States with the heaviest concentration from Indiana, Ohio, Illinois and Kentucky.
With this level of specialty, Dr. Meneghini states that the surgeons have “chosen to be super specialists in hip and knee replacement.” Their commitment is so strong, he states, “If we are not performing those two surgeries, we are doing research, and we are the only fellowship program in the state of Indiana.” The fellowship program is growing with 80 applicants from all over the U.S. vying for only two spots. One applicant from Switzerland has chosen Saxony over Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins, solidifying their growing national reputation.
Nationally Recognized Program in Your Backyard
With four surgeons and fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons, the program is also being recognized nationally and internationally. Saxony is ranked #2 in the United States by the UHC (University Healthsystem Consortium) database–which includes world-renowned hospitals such as Mayo Clinic and Johns Hopkins–for length of stay. The key outcomes that the government and insurance companies are looking for are length of stay, meaning how long you stay in the hospital, and whether you have to be readmitted. And while it is important to get patients back to their normal schedules as quickly as possible, it must be done safely to ensure that their patients don’t return to the hospital due to complications.
For more information about the IU Health Saxony Hospital Joint Replacement Program or to attend a free monthly information seminar, log on to iuhealth.org/saxony.
IU Health Saxony Hospital
13000 E. 136th St.
Fishers, IN 46037
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