Published on March 05, 2010

Illini Campus Offers One-Stop Care For Joint Replacement Surgery

Like many people, 71-year-old Julia DeBlaey coped with pain and put off having her knee replaced as long as she could.

Always independent, she didn't like the prospect of depending on others to help during her recuperation.

Last October, she had her left knee replaced at the Genesis, Illini Campus and discovered the convenience of receiving all her care under the same roof -- the surgery, the hospital stay, several weeks of skilled care at Illini Restorative Care, and then outpatient physical therapy from Illini Rehabilitative Services.

Instead of going straight home after her hospital stay, she went to the adjoining Illini Restorative Care. There, she received a couple of weeks of skilled nursing care and occupational and physical therapy in the 22-bed, Medicare-certified skilled nursing care unit.

The unit is one of three levels of care at Illini Restorative Care, which has achieved the highest possible rating -- 5 stars -- from Nursing Home Compare.

Mrs. DeBlaey liked the easy transition of going from the hospital to skilled care without having to leave the building, or asking her family to care for her at home in Rapids City, Ill.

"Illini is a great place to have joint replacement surgery," Mrs. DeBlaey says. "I have eight grown children, and a couple of them who live nearby offered to let me stay with them for a while. But they have jobs and busy lives, and I felt it was a lot to ask. I liked the idea of not inconveniencing my family and receiving great care close to the hospital."

She already had experienced first-hand the quality care at Illini Restorative Care, where her husband lived before his death. "I knew quite a few of the staff already," she says. "Everyone was so caring. The nurses and therapists were all very kind and fun. I would recommend Illini to anyone who has a total joint replacement."

Convenience and comfort
Mrs. DeBlaey is one of many joint-replacement surgery patients who spend time at Illini Restorative Care after leaving the hospital. They enjoy a full spectrum of care -- from before-surgery education to after-surgery rehabilitation.

"Some patients who have total hip or knee replacement surgery choose to go directly home from the hospital and receive therapy as an outpatient," says Debbie Slater, Interim Administrator of Illini Restorative Care. "Others come to Illini Restorative Care and stay in our Skilled Care Unit, where they receive direct nursing care and daily physical and occupational therapy before they return home.

"They can receive help managing their pain and daily therapy -- rather than traveling back and forth from home to an outpatient clinic three times a week. They can rest and recuperate without worrying about household chores. We provide all that for them."

She adds, "They don't have to be of Medicare age to take advantage of this...we have younger individuals stay here, as well."

A care continuum
Before joint replacement surgery, patients are offered pre-surgery education where they receive information and meet with nurses from the Outpatient Care Center, Operating Room and Surgical Unit, and representatives from physical therapy, dietary, medical social services and Genesis Home Medical Equipment.

"They can meet with multiple providers and learn what to expect and how to prepare themselves," says physical therapist Connie Tauke, Rehabilitation Manager at Genesis, Illini Campus. "We also give them exercises to do before surgery to help strengthen key muscle groups so they will be more successful in rehab after surgery."

Patients learn how to avoid fall hazards, including putting away throw rugs, getting a shower bench, having a grab bar or railing on their stairs; and, clearing walkways at home to accommodate a walker. Hip replacement patients must take certain bending precautions, so it's important for patients to have easy access to items so they do not have to bend or stoop, Tauke adds.

Therapy at Illini Restorative Care focuses on achieving the daily living skills they will need to return home.

"The nice thing about the Illini Campus is that our therapy staff often floats back and forth between the hospital and Illini Restorative Care. Often, the therapist who evaluates a patient in the hospital also follows him or her to Illini Restorative Care," Tauke says.

That same care continuum extends to when patients go home and return to the Illini Campus for outpatient rehabilitation. "Our therapists are in the same physical space, so there's that ease of communication when patients transfer from inpatient to outpatient rehabilitation. We know exactly what they need, where they are in the therapy process and what their goals are," Tauke says. "Another advantage to coming to Illini for outpatient rehabilitation is that patients can have their Lab draws done during their physical therapy session."

Families appreciate the convenience of having their loved ones cared for in a safe place prepared to accommodate joint replacement patients.

"This arrangement takes away so much stress from the families," Tauke concludes. "By the time patients come home, they're ready. Their families may need to assist them, but for the most part, they are independent and able to take care of themselves."