Virtua Voorhees Hospital Earns Advanced Certification for Total Hip & Knee Replacement

Virtua Voorhees Hospital has received advanced certification in total hip and knee replacement surgery - the highest level available.

The Joint Commission, a prestigious international accrediting agency, has awarded the Voorhees, N.J., hospital its Gold Seal of Approval® for Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification. This accreditation, conducted in collaboration with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, reflects a health care organization's commitment to providing safe, high-quality patient care.

"This advanced certification is a testament to the excellence of our joint replacement surgeons and teams. In fact, it's an important quality indicator for both our surgical and non-surgical hip and knee patients," said Dr. Jeremy Reid, lead physician for joint replacement at Virtua Reconstructive Orthopedics.

That's because the Seal of Approval encompasses each part of the patient's journey - including the initial consultation with the orthopedic surgeon, rehabilitation activities, and follow-up visits, in addition to surgery.

"At Virtua, we offer a number of non-surgical and non-replacement interventions, as well as advanced surgical options including robotic-assisted procedures," Dr. Reid explained. "We work with each patient to base their treatment on their individual situation, level of pain, and activity goals."

For example, rehabilitation is vital for recovery from surgery, and it can also serve as a treatment for hip and knee problems. Virtua offers physical therapy, occupational therapy and aquatic therapy, as well as "pre-hab" to help patients prepare for and recover from surgery.

Virtua Reconstructive Orthopedics has a large team of more than 150 providers, including 10 hip- and knee-replacement surgeons and dozens of support staff. Patients can choose from 28 Virtua Health outpatient rehabilitation centers conveniently located across South Jersey.

Hip and knee replacement patients are often able to have outpatient surgery. For those who require an inpatient hospital admission, Virtua specializes in short stays, with most patients able to go home within 24 hours of their hip or knee replacement procedure. Typically, patients do not require a stay at a rehabilitation facility.

"Virtua Voorhees Hospital underwent a rigorous, unannounced onsite review," noted Ken Grubbs, DNP, MBA, RN, executive vice president of Accreditation and Certification Operations and chief nursing executive of the Joint Commission.

"Advanced Total Hip and Knee Replacement Certification recognizes healthcare organizations committed to striving for excellence and fostering continuous improvement in patient safety and quality of care," he added. "We commend Virtua Voorhees Hospital for using Joint Commission's certification process to reduce variation in clinical processes and to strengthen its clinical program to drive safer, higher quality and more compassionate care for individuals served."

For more information on hip and knee replacement, as well as non-surgical treatments, visit virtua.org/joint or call .