SSM Health Orthopedics' Joint Replacement Center (JRC)

• Joint Replacement Center unit design includes:
  • Comfortable, quiet, private rooms on the ground level in a garden setting
  • Family lounge for group education and visitors’ comfort
  • Room service for meals
• Specialty care by nurses and providers certified in orthopedic care
  • A majority of the orthopedic nurses in the Joint Replacement Center are certified by the National Association of Orthopedic Nurses. This certification demonstrates that these nurses have superior knowledge and expertise in caring for orthopedic patients. Nurses who receive this prestigious certification must have a minimum of 1,000 hours of orthopedic nursing experience and pass a rigorous examination.
  • A nurse management team coordinates every part of a patient’s hospital stay and is available for questions and consultation

• On-unit therapy gym staffed by experienced physical and occupational therapists who assist with therapy after surgery and train patients and families for quick recovery
  • Therapy gym features at-home style training facility including bed, bath, stairs, ramp and car
  • A discharge class to prepare patients for their return home
  • A rehabilitation training program that helps patients return to daily activities as soon as possible
  • Provide ongoing education about assistive devices, joint protection and energy conservation to aid patient recovery

SSM Health offers specialty patient education and training for quick and complete recovery, including:

• Comprehensive guidebook for patients to follow starting from four weeks before surgery until three months after surgery and beyond
  • Hip Replacement Guide to Recovery
  • Knee Replacement Guide to Recovery
  • Shoulder Replacement Guide to Recovery
• Preoperative patient education classes taught by orthopedic-certified nurses and physical therapists to prepare patients and their families for the joint replacement surgery experience

Surgeons at SSM Health DePaul Hospital perform more primary knee and hip replacement procedures combined than most other hospitals in the St. Louis area. Why is that good news for our patients? Research shows that patients who have surgery at high-volume centers have fewer complications and better outcomes.

• The infection rate for patients after total joint replacement is much lower at the  Joint Replacement Center than nationally.
• The majority of  Joint Replacement Center patients are able to return home after surgery rather than going to a nursing facility.

The Joint Replacement Center is consistently ranked in the top 5% nationwide for patient satisfaction. The  Joint Replacement Center staff approaches each patient and family with the understanding that compassionate care must go hand-in-hand with advanced technology. This mindset of patient-focused care leads to a higher standard of care and assures happy patients.

The Joint Replacement Center (JRC) is recognized nationally for its programs in total joint replacement. In 2009 the JRC was the first hospital unit in Missouri to earn disease-specific certification in total hip and knee replacement from The Joint Commission, a designation it maintained for 13 years.

In May 2022, the JRC earned Advanced Certification in Total Hip and Knee Replacement, one of 139 hospitals in the US to hold this high distinction. The JRC is the first in St. Louis to earn Core Certification for Total Shoulder Replacement and is one of 55 hospitals in the US to earn this honor.

National health insurance companies have designated the Joint Replacement Center as an Orthopedics Center of Excellence in Total Hip and Knee Replacement in the state of Missouri, a select mark held by only a few hospitals in the region.

U.S. News & World Report gave its highest national ranking “High Performing” to the total knee replacement program at SSM Health DePaul Hospital. Orthopedic surgeons in the JRC have been leaders in orthopedic surgery and joint replacement in St. Louis for many years. Their dedication and innovation have been instrumental in bringing advanced, minimally invasive orthopedic procedures to the St. Louis area. Our doctors are known for their experience and expertise in treating debilitating medical conditions, using the latest technology and medical advances in a caring and compassionate environment.

The orthopedic surgeons remain active in clinical research to continually improve the outcomes of their patients, including advancements in diagnosis, management, and treatment of clinical conditions. The group has earned grant funding and won national awards for their research at this institution.

Each year St. Louis Magazine recognizes physicians in their Best Doctors section of the magazine. In the past two years, three high-volume surgeons in the Joint Replacement Center have been recognized as leaders in total joint replacement, Drs. William Schroer, Frank Tull and Katherine Burns.