The Orthopaedic Program
The Orthopaedic Program at Magee-Womens Hospital of UPMC understands that men’s and women’s joints are different. We are the experts in providing patient- and family-centered care.
Conditions We Treat
- Hip pain
- Knee pain
- Back pain
Our Services
- Total hip replacement
- Total knee replacement
- Spine surgery
Many women and men with hip, knee, or back pain never pursue treatment due to anxiety about surgery, but our approach to evaluating and undertaking your treatment makes all the difference. At Magee, you can trust our commitment to helping you progress at your own pace while making your complete recovery as smooth and anxiety-free as possible.
Patient- and Family-Centered Care
The Orthopaedic Program takes a wellness approach to surgery and recovery. Since most surgical candidates are healthy individuals whose lives can be greatly improved through reconstructive surgery, they need not be treated as if they are sick or ill. At The Orthopaedic Program, the journey to wellness begins with the patient’s own condition and needs, not with the assumption that each patient will undergo surgery. Treatment is tailored to the individual’s pain tolerance and activity needs.
The Orthopaedic Program at Magee includes doctors’ offices and a preoperative outpatient center. These are located in a newly remodeled area on the hospital’s first floor, which makes the location easily accessible for patients with orthotic parts.
Location is just one example of how patient needs are top priority. If a patient is a candidate for surgery, the surgery is scheduled before the patient leaves the office. At the same time, patients schedule all of their preoperative testing and an education session, which take place in the same location. By the time a patient leaves his or her office visit, surgery and everything needed to prepare for surgery are scheduled.
Pre-Operative Visit
Patients undergoing surgery identify a family member or friend to serve as a coach through your journey to wellness. The coach attends the preoperative visit and also comes to the hospital on the day of surgery. All patients come in for preoperative testing on the same day as their surgery. Patients and coaches meet each other as they learn about surgery and what to expect in the hospital and after discharge. Some patients find that the operating room staff are the same people who performed their preoperative testing.
At the preoperative visits, a history and physical of the patient is obtained. An electrocardiogram (EKG), blood work, chest x-ray, and any other necessary testing also is performed. Education classes and notebooks are provided, allowing patients and family members an opportunity to ask any questions. A social worker is available to assist the health care team with any hospitalization concerns and discharge needs. An anesthesiologist is available to discuss any special anesthesia or pain management concerns or needs. All of this takes place in two hours or less.
Inpatient Unit
After surgery, patients are moved to the state-of-the-art "Wellness Unit." Designed to provide a comfortable, relaxed setting for patients and families to enjoy, this inpatient unit includes large private rooms and a special Family Room. All of the rooms are equipped with Internet access. Our room service menu allows patients to order directly from a menu at any time of the day or night.
Amenities
The Family Room, where your family will wait for you while you are in surgery, has many friendly touches, such as rocking chairs and couches, a big-screen TV, a massage chair, and a fully stocked refrigerator for patients and their families.
The Orthopaedic Program also offers valet parking, a massage therapist for patients, and a concierge service to help reduce and eliminate delays for arrivals and discharges at the hospital entrance.
Wellness Approach
Physical and occupational therapy take place right in the unit, and patients are able to work their joints in a specially designed gym. Therapy begins the very first evening — the same day as their surgery — for those who are able to participate.
There are no restrictions on movement or activities. Most patients get out of bed and dress in their own clothes the day after surgery and walk to physical and occupational therapy sessions.
Patient-Piloted Recovery
A group approach to recovery allows patients to work out in the gym with others who have experienced similar surgeries. Patients are encouraged to be out of their rooms when they are awake, so there is a large community room where patients and visitors can watch TV, play cards, or enjoy a healthy snack. After a two- or three-day stay, nearly all patients are discharged to continue their recovery at home.
Our Experts
The physicians in The Orthopaedic Program are board-certified in orthopaedic surgery or neurosurgery and serve as subspecialists in hip and knee surgery, as well as sports medicine. Their focus is on patient- and family-centered care that puts the patient and their designated "coach" in the driver's seat of the recovery process. To learn more about some of our physicians, click here.