For more about Unity Hospital's
Joint Replacement Center,
call 763-236-2800.

Patient education

• Total hip replacement
• Total knee replacement

If you are living with joint pain and are considering knee or hip replacement surgery, Unity Hospital's Joint Replacement Center can help you get moving and back to the lifestyle you enjoy.

Our comprehensive program will provide you with the care and support to complete your journey. From pre-surgery education to a unique group physical therapy program, our dedicated staff will be your guide.

What makes us special?

Education

A pre-surgery education class will help you prepare for surgery and provide more information about successful recovery and rehabilitation, in and out of the hospital.

Dedicated staff

The Joint Replacement Center features nurses and physical therapists working together to care for patients who have had knee or hip replacement surgery. Many have chosen to specialize in orthopedic care and have received advanced certification.

Dedicated care center

After you wake up from surgery, you will be transferred to Unity Hospital's Joint Replacement Center. The Center combines nursing care and rehabilitation into a single, coordinated unit.

Group environment

After surgery, your recovery will be encouraged and supported with group activities, therapy and meals.

Personal coaching

The Joint Replacment Cener staff encourages patients to identify a friend or family member to serve as their "coach" to support and encourage them to meet milestones during recovery. Your coach will attend physical therapy with you in the mornings and afternoons.

Access to home health resources

Unity Hospital is part of Allina Health, the region's largest health care system. This partnership gives you unparalleled access to resources to continue your recovery after you leave the hospital.

Our social workers and Joint Center staff can help you order home medical equipment such as walkers or canes, schedule outpatient appointments for physical and occupational therapy, or connect you with home health resources.

Joint Replacement Center care team

The Joint Replacement Center at Unity Hospital is supported by a team of dedicated, experienced professionals who have many years experience working patients recovering from knee or hip replacement surgery. Your care is coordinated by a team of skilled professions including your surgeon, an orthopedic surgery team of nurses and technicians, hospital physicians who monitor your progress, registered nurses, physical and occupational therapists and social workers.

Our entire team works together with you to ensure that you experience a successful journey back to a more active life – pre-surgery, during your stay at Unity, and ongoing rehabilitation when you go home. Our commitment is to provide you with an exceptional experience through the highest quality education, guidance, coaching and care.

Orthopedic surgeons ?

Richard Birdwell, MD Robin Crandall, MD Paul Diekmann, MD Joseph Flake, MD

Peter Holmberg, MD Jay Kruse, MD David Lindgren, MD Randall Norgard, MD Jason Barry, MD

Gavin Pittman, MD John Rogers, MD Gary Sager, MD Erik Wetter, MD Troy Wolter, MD Orthopedic surgery Your bones and muscles form the framework of your body. Orthopedic surgeons use medical, surgical and physical means to preserve and restore this framework. Learn more about orthopedic surgery.

Your OR team

Unity's surgical team is comprised of professionals who specialize in orthopedics, and who closely follow the latest evidence-based care guidelines and trends in joint surgery. This team participates in more than 450 joint replacement surgeries at Unity each year. Many nurses in the OR (operating room) have completed training to become Certified Nurses of the Operating Room (CNOR).

Your nurses

The nursing staff at the Joint Replacement has chosen to make orthopedic care the focus of their career. With ongoing education and specialized training, these nurses have cared for patients for decades. Many live in the north metro community, and are proud to be serving their neighbors.

Your rehabilitation staff

Physical and occupational therapy is provided in partnership with the Sister Kenny® Rehabilitation Institute, a leader in rehabilitative services in Minnesota. Using an integrated approach to your physical and occupational therapy, these professionals will help you to regain the strength and mobility to make every day tasks more comfortable. Sister Kenny also provides outpatient therapy for you to continue recovery after you leave the hospital.

Your coach

Patients are encouraged to select a friend or family member to assist them with their recovery post-surgery. The coach will attend therapy sessions at 9:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. each and help you with short walks, complete exercises for your hip or knee and provide encouragement and support. You will receive more information about your coach's role at your pre-surgery education class. For patients who do not have a coach available, a limited number of hospital volunteers have been trained as patient coaches.

Support at each step

Your journey starts with comprehensive education. Before your surgery, you'll attend an education class at Unity Hospital, where you will receive information about what to expect the day of surgery, rehabilitation, caring for yourself and continuing recovery after you leave the hospital.

Day of surgery

After surgery, you'll be brought to your room in Unity's Joint Replacement Center. Your care team will help you to sit up and move to a chair. Some patients may be well enough to take a short walk with assistance.

What to expect after surgery

Day one: After you are bathed and dressed, you'll be helped out of bed and into your recliner. The physical therapist will assess your progress and help you walk with a walker. Your nurse will work with you to assess your pain and provide pain medication as needed. At 1:30 p.m. - you'll participate in group physical therapy, your coach is strongly encouraged to attend. Visitors are welcome to visit, it is best for them to come in the late afternoon or evening.

Day two: Your coach should arrive at the hospital at 9 a.m. and help you walk to group therapy, which will at 9:30 a.m. In the afternoon, there will be another group therapy session at 1:30 p.m. Some patients may begin walking stairs with the help of a physical therapist. Your evening is free for visitors or relaxing. Many patients are discharged after the afternoon therapy session on day two, if therapy goals have been met and their pain is well controlled.

Day three: You'll be helped out of bed and dressed by 7:30 a.m. After a therapy session at 9:30 a.m., pending any unforeseen delays, discharge time will be between 11am – 12pm.

Customized after-care

Your care team will work with you and your family to develop a personalized discharge and home care plan that includes outpatient therapy, pain management and arranging for home medical equipment, such as a walker or cane.

The majority of patients (nearly 80 percent) are able to recover in their own home with help from family and friends and continuing outpatient physical therapy. Other patients will continue rehabilitation in a skilled nursing facility (or short-term rehabilitation center) where their medical needs can be monitored at all times and there are many types of help and services available.