EDUCATION CLASSES

St. Joseph’s Hospital holds Joint Replacement classes on Mondays.     Please call community education at (714) 771-8913 for dates and times.  Please attend at least three weeks prior to your surgery.  These classes are highly recommended for all replacement surgery patients.  Attending this class will be of great help to you and your family in preparing for surgery and gives helpful hints to speed your safe recovery.  This class involves a physical therapist and a registered nurse that can assist you with postoperative discharge planning.

PRIOR TO SURGERY

1. Inform your surgeon of any health problems.  Bring a list to the hospital of your current medications.
2. Check with your physician prior to taking aspirin, anti-inflammatory or arthritis medications for 2 weeks before surgery.  This includes Motrin, Feldene, Naprosyn, Aleve, Anacin and Advil.  This interferes with blood clotting.  Celebrex, Vioxx and Bextra are OK.
3. Exercise as much as possible.
4. Stop smoking if you can.  Abstain from smoking 4-5days prior to surgery.
5. Eat a good diet, which is high in vitamins and minerals and low in fat.  Vitamin A, C and the mineral zinc have been found to promote healing.
6. Beginning at midnight the night before surgery, fast from all food and liquids.  It is very important for safety reasons to have an empty stomach.

BLOOD TRANSFUSION

Your physician may request that you donate your own blood prior to surgery (called an autologous donation).  If you are unable to give your own blood, you may request a physician order for the donor program (donors are selected by the patient).  Charges associated with a blood donor may or may not be covered by insurance.  Please check your insurance.  Please call Blood Donor Services for an appointment (714) 744-8721.  Blood is drawn by appointment only.  Unless otherwise specified by your physician your blood donation will be scheduled once per week (1 unit per week) up to one week prior to surgery.  Your physician may prescribe iron tablets to assist your body in regenerating blood.

ADMISSION TO THE HOSPITAL

Please arrive 2 hours prior to scheduled surgery time in the main lobby-admitting desk.  Wear simple loose fitting comfortable clothing. Bring slippers or comfortable shoes for walking with physical therapy. Do not wear any jewelry.  If you wear glasses, hearing aides or dentures please bring them with containers. Bring your drivers license and insurance card.  Bring a list of all medications you are taking.  Average length of stay in the hospital is 3-4 days.

ANTICOAGULANTS

Your physician may prescribe a blood thinner post operatively to prevent blood clots.  Some physicians will prescribe aspirin once your are discharged.  Some examples of these blood thinners are Coumadin, aspirin, Fragmin and Lovenox,  Fragmin and Lovenox are injectable medications that you will be educated on prior to returning home.  Most pharmacies need 24-48 hours to order.  Please fill prescription for these medications at one of these pharmacies.  They are guaranteed to be in stock. 

OUT–PATIENT PAVILION PHARMACY 1140 W. La Veta Ave, Orange, CA 92868. 

Phone: (714) 744-8724. Hours of operation M-F 8am-6: 30pm.  SAVON PHARMACY 480 S. Main St., Orange, CA. 92868.  Telephone     (714) 938-1200 or The Medicine Shoppe in the Batavia Woods Complex (714) 538-4600. Open 24 hours 7 days a week.  If your insurance is an HMO you will need to fill your prescription at the outpatient pavilion

DISCHARGE FROM THE HOSPITAL

 Options are discussed in the joint replacement class.  Options available to you are home rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation, or inpatient rehab/Skilled nursing facility.

Home/out patient Rehab

Requires help for meals and housekeeping.  You should be independent in transfers

The hospital discharge planner will arrange for continued physical therapy.  This is usually covered by most insurance

The discharge planner will order all necessary medical equipment for home that your physician ordered.  This is usually covered by insurance.

Rehab/Skilled nursing Facility

You and your family should visit and choose a facility for continued rehabilitation (physical therapy and occupational therapy).

Contracted facilities with your insurance, addresses and phone numbers will be given to you by the orthopedic liaison after the total joint replacement class.  The rehab facility will provide you with daily physical therapy and occupational therapy and all necessary medical equipment ordered by your physician.  The Saint Joseph Hospital discharge planner will coordinate your admission and transfer by ambulance to the rehab facility of your choice.  The rehab facility will provide social services for discharge planning for medical equipment you may need when discharged.

If you have any questions please call Angela Anderson, RN at St. Joseph Hospital, Orange

We wish you a successful surgery.