Joint Replacement Center of Excellence

About the Joint Center

St. Joseph Regional Medical Center opened the first Total Joint Center of Excellence program in northern Idaho.

Our program is designed to help patients throughout the joint-replacement process from presurgery education and preparation through surgery and post-surgery rehabilitation. The center was created in January 2012 through a collaboration between St. Joseph Regional Medical Center and Lewiston Orthopaedics Associates.

We use the latest technology in performing the surgery, such as customized instruments for knee replacement surgery. We use an MRI model of the knee to customize the instruments to each individual patient. This can result in less surgery time and a better recovery. The surgeries are performed by board-certified orthopedic surgeons in state-of-the-art operating rooms.

Our program has its own area of the medical center, which includes both individual and group therapies to provide a more rapid and successful recovery. This area includes private single rooms, a dining room, an exercise room, an outdoor/forest-themed stairwell and much more. Patients regularly support and encourage one another in the recovery. Research has shown that group therapy and events help patients get active sooner, and our patients enjoy participating in a variety of group activities.

The total joint program is designed to mimic in a fun way the types of activities that patients need to master after surgery, such as going up and down stairs and getting in and out of the shower or bath tub.

The program begins with a presurgery "Steps for Success" class held at the medical center. The class covers what a patient can expect to go through from admission to post-surgery recovery. It helps patients be more informed about surgery and recovery, and what therapy will be like, and also hear from someone who has been through the process.

Our nurse navigator will help you through every step of the way, answering your questions and laying the groundwork for your successful recovery.