SURGE Center for Joint Replacement Surgery

Columbus Community Hospital is changing the way patients and their families think about and experience joint replacement surgery with Surge, a comprehensive program that is based on a national best practice model for shoulder, hip and knee replacements.

The Surge program incorporates advanced, minimally invasive and rapid-recovery surgical techniques into an environment that helps you recover quicker with the help of your families and peers.

Surge coaches

First, you choose a coach — usually a family member or loved one — who is an active participant in your care before, during and after your stay in the hospital. Coaches learn the program right along with their loved one and provide encouragement and support every step of the way. Both you and your coach are required to attend a preoperative class three to four weeks before surgery, where you meet your Surge team. At this point, you also learn about the procedure, what to expect in the hospital and how to care for yourself after discharge.

Joint replacement education

CCH also provides additional education for people who elect to undergo shoulder, hip or knee replacement surgery, including:

In addition to this education, you will be able to work with CCH’s director of outpatient nursing services, who oversees patients’ entire Surge experience — before, during and after their hospital stay. All staff at the Surge Center receive special training and are chosen to work on the unit because of their expertise; positive, upbeat nature; and motivational skills.

Your hospital stay

After surgery, you will stay in a unit designated especially for people who are having joint replacement surgery, and you begin your recovery the day after your surgery. Each day, you receive a daily newsletter — Shoulder Scoops, Knee Keys or Hip Hints, depending on your surgery — which lets you know your agenda for the day and gives you tips on how to care for yourself later. We hold group and independent physical therapy sessions daily — in the Surge ortho suite located on the unit.

You will compete with other patients in terms of the distance you walk each day, and we track your progress on a large exercise board posted in a common area. The group environment of the Surge Center provides camaraderie and additional motivation.

After you return home

But the care doesn’t end after discharge or graduation from the Surge Center. You will receive a call from the Surge staff within 72 hours of discharge, and again three weeks later.

CCH staff will evaluate each patient on multiple clinical, functional and patient satisfaction criteria. So, when we say we offer better outcomes, we have the data to prove it.

Contact us

For more information on the Surge Center for Joint Replacement Surgery, contact:

Dona J. Kudron, RN, MSN
Director of outpatient nursing services
402-562-4624
djkudron@columbushosp.org

Columbus Community Hospital
4600 38th St.
Columbus, Nebraska 68602-1800