Orthopedics services at Transylvania Regional Hospital are patient-centered

We tend to take our mobility for granted when all our joints are working fine, but when wear and tear, injury, or another problem curtails our movement and causes chronic pain, it greatly affects our quality of life. This is why Transylvania Regional Hospital (TRH) offers state-of-the-art orthopedic care, along with a VIP experience for patients who have elective or emergency surgery.

According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, about 790,000 knee replacements are performed in the United States each year, while the American College of Rheumatology estimates that the number of annual hip replacements is 544,000. Not only is the number of people needing joint replacement steadily increasing, but more of these patients are middle-aged individuals who have led active lives and are needing joint replacement earlier than previous generations.

In our community, the demand for orthopedic services is great as well. In response to this, TRH offers treatment for conditions like osteoporosis and arthritis, fractures and dislocations, and surgery like total knee and hip replacements.

We are fortunate to have two specialists from Asheville Orthopaedic Associates who perform orthopedic procedures at TRH. Dr. Jordan Shaw focuses on foot and ankle surgery, while Dr. Landon Hall’s expertise is performing knee and hip procedures, including anterior total hip replacement. Dr. Hall provides about 10-12 days per month of being on call in our Emergency Room and also performs elective non-emergent surgeries.

We plan to offer primary total knee procedures at TRH in the future also. For these, Dr. Hall will be assisted by a portable “robot” during knee replacement surgery, technology which helps him perform personalized replacement surgery with enhanced precision and faster recovery. Another future goal is to retain a fulltime orthopedic surgeon here at TRH, and we are currently engaged in the search process.

In addition to our talented surgeons, our expert anesthesiologists competently oversee general anesthesia (when a patient is not conscious during a procedure) for patients. They’re also dedicated to providing excellent pain control to patients through nerve and spinal blocks. These control postoperative pain and decrease patients’ needs for narcotics.

Patients opting for elective total joint replacement receive assistance from Dr. Hall's office to attain optimal physical health in the 8-12 weeks leading up to the surgery, and TRH's anesthesiologists and certified nurse anesthetists advise the surgeon if a patient needs cardiac or other medical clearance.

All of TRH’s surgery staff has plentiful experience and longevity with us, including our highly certified nurses and surgical technologists.

Once orthopedic surgery is completed, a crucial part of the patient’s recovery is rehabilitation, aimed at safely restoring mobility. Typically, an orthopedic patient will have their first encounter with their physical therapist, and sometimes an occupational therapist, on the day of their surgery or the following day.

Patients who have total joint replacements, for example, are seen by Physical Therapist Grant Pierron while they are in the hospital, and they can also be treated by him in our Outpatient Department. Patients receive consistent, one-on-one care from the same physical therapist for every visit, ensuring excellent care continuity.

Each patient is carefully evaluated, and an individualized care plan is created for them that sees them through their transition from inpatient to outpatient status. Inpatients are normally seen twice per day and when they’re discharged home, they may receive home healthcare services or go to Outpatient Rehab, depending on their needs. TRH offers Swing Bed or Transitional Care Unit placement to patients who aren’t able to return home soon after surgery. Both services are in the hospital, again allowing for sustained continuity of care.

The communication between Rehab Services and the care team is very important and is supported by our use of a common electronic charting platform, daily notes and evaluations, and multi-disciplinary rounds where every patient is discussed at their bedside. Patients’ families are also encouraged to be present for rounds.

We consider every patient unique, a whole person (rather than just the joint treated). We continuously reassess their goals, how they’re tolerating rehab, whether they’re succeeding with at-home exercises, how they’re doing emotionally, and more.

We are with our orthopedic patients before, during, and after surgery. Our orthopedic and rehab teams are focused on providing the highest level of care for our community members, so they can look forward to years of pain-free activity.

Michele Pilon, MS, BSN, RN, NE-BC, is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Nursing Officer of Transylvania Regional Hospital. Her diverse professional experience includes service as a bedside nurse and over a decade as a leader at healthcare institutions in Virginia, Florida, and North Carolina. Ms. Pilon earned a Bachelor’s in Nursing from Ohio’s University of Akron and a Master's in Health Services Administration from the University of St. Francis in Illinois; she is also a Board-Certified Nursing Executive.