Welcome to the Total Joint Assessment Centre.
Your doctors referred you here because you've had a problem with your hip or
knee
and you're going to be examined by a clinician to see if you may or may not
be a candidate for surgery.
When you arrive at the Total Joint Assessment Centre please make sure that
you remember a few things.
You need to bring loose fitting clothing as a clinician will be examining you.
You'll need to bring some money for parking and please don't forget to bring
your coach.
The coach will be someone who can be with you to help listen to what the doctors
and the clinicians have to say
and help be a second set of ears
so that in the future when you're trying to remember all this important information
they'll help you along.
When I went in for the first consultation I brought my
husband with just in case
I wasn't hearing everything that I had to hear. I suggest that, it's very, very important.
When you start your day at the Total Joint Assessment Centre,
first you'll go to the information desk at the main entrance. There you'll be directed
into the Patient Registration Office where you'll register prior to going to the clinic.
Once you've gone for patient registration, you'll go to the TJAC clinic.
Here you'll visit the desk and you'll receive some forms to fill out.
You'll go to the waiting area outside to fill out the forms and then you'll come in to
see the clinician.
On your first visit to the Total Joint Assessment Centre you'll meet with a
clinician.
The clinician is expertly trained to examine your joint
look at your X-ray and determine if you're a candidate for surgery.
If you are a candidate for surgery, the clinician will review the risks, the
benefits
and discuss the operation with you.
We commence with taking a comprehensive medical history of the patient's general health
and then we take very comprehensive history about the problem that they're having
with their joint, whether it be hip or knee or both.
Following that we do a physical examination which is typically done
as a visual of the joint. We assess how they walk and then we do a
hands-on examination on the stretcher. After that point
we would discuss the X-ray findings,
and we tell the patient what we see and try to explain to them what's going on.
If the patient has a lot of pain and a lot of disability
and the X-rays support that, we talk about joint replacement
a an option.
It was a streamlined process where you saw your physiotherapist,
the X-rays were done right on that same spot and they
met with you and a showed you what your X-rays look like and where you are in
your alignment and
all those things were were discussed from the get-go.
On your visit to the Total Joint Assessment Centre you'll have some X-rays
taken.
Your X-rays will help your clinician or your surgeon
evaluate your joint and determine if you're a candidate for surgery.
From the Total Joint Assessment Centre, you'll be brought down to the waiting
area for the X-ray.
You'll be directed in what to wear or if you need to change
into different clothing for the X-ray procedure. When the technician is ready
you'll be called into the X-ray room
and you'll be instructed on where to go and how to move for your X-rays.
X-rays are a routine way to evaluate an arthritic joint
and to evaluate a joint after its had joint replacement surgery.
And X-rays will be taken before your operation
and at your 1-, 5- and 10-year follow-up.
At the second visit, which is usually about 2 or 3 weeks later,
the patient comes to see one of the surgeons. And at that time, the surgeon
will verify the findings of the clinician,
answer any questions that the patients may have
and will make sure that the patient in fact understands
clearly what is planned and what will be done.
Now when the surgeon sees the patient there will be a brief history,
a brief examination. As well, the surgeon with look at the X-rays
and discuss the X-rays also with the patient, make sure the patient understands the
operation
and make plans for the operation to be booked
and organized for the patient.
Once you've been deemed a surgical candidate after your initial appointment
at the Total Joint Assessment Centre, then you will have access to the Patient
Navigator.
I'm Larissa and I'm the Patient Navigator for the Hip and Knee Program.
Along your journey here, I'll be able to provide you with any support
or answer any questions you might have along the way. So please feel free to
contact me whenever you have any questions or concerns.