Catholic Health’s Chairman for Orthopedics and Director of Orthopedics for St. Charles, Douglas Matthew Petraco, M.D., recently completed the first outpatient total joint replacement procedure at PrecisionCare Surgery Center, an ambulatory surgery center (ASC) that opened earlier this year in East Setauket, New York. The procedure was a total hip replacement.
“This procedure was done on a younger patient who had been struggling with hip arthritis for years and was trying to treat it non-operatively,” said Dr. Petraco. “Eventually, the pain got worse, and we decided it was time for a replacement. He was an ideal candidate for the same-day procedure because of his age and activity level, but outpatient joint replacement surgery is a good option for many patients.”
At PrecisionCare Surgery Center, the entire care team is focused on successful outpatient surgery and positive outcomes, which includes helping the patients transition the same day from the center to their homes for recovery and rehabilitation.
“Before a patient is discharged, a physical therapist works with them to get them up, walking, and on the stair stimulator,” explained Dr. Petraco. “Our goal for our patients is to prepare them to move around their house independently before leaving our facility.”
Outpatient joint replacements are gaining popularity with 50-60% being done in the same-day surgery setting. Advantages include less time in the facility, lower risk of infection, more one-to-one attention and care, and potential cost savings.
PrecisionCare Surgery Center is a joint venture between Orthopedic Associates of Long Island, Catholic Health, and Regent Surgical Health. The center is located at 28 Research Way in East Setauket, serving the patients in Suffolk County and the surrounding areas.
To learn more about PrecisionCare Surgery Center, click here.
