Enhanced Recovery Program

Recover in the Comfort of Home

After joint replacement surgery, it’s natural to want to recover near loved ones and in the comfort of your home. The enhanced recovery program at St. Peter’s Health Partners helps more people do just that.

We use a coordinated approach to help eligible patients go home the day of surgery. The enhanced recovery program maintains extremely low complication rates.

What Is the Enhanced Recovery Program?

With the enhanced recovery program, you:

Have surgery earlier in the day
Get up and moving shortly after initial pain medications wear off
Complete your initial physical therapy session and maintain reasonable pain control
Go home in the early afternoon

Enhanced Recovery Program for Joint Replacement Surgery: Why Choose Us?

St. Peter’s Health Partners is home to one of the Capital Region’s leading joint replacement programs. We hold ourselves to the highest standards, so you can count on us for safe, precise care that meets your needs. Enhanced recovery is an extension of our commitment to helping people become pain-free and get back to their busy lives.

Highlights of our program include:

Surgical excellence: Surgeons specializing in hip, knee, shoulder and ankle replacements deliver your care. Our surgeons perform a high number of joint replacement procedures every year. Their experience and meticulous planning enable us to deliver exceptional care. Learn more about our Joint Replacement Center.
Personalized inpatient care: After surgery, you benefit from the careful attention of nurses, therapists and other professionals. Many of our nurses and therapists have years of experience working with joint replacement patients. We are by your side regularly to keep your recovery moving forward.
Coordination: A case manager takes an active role in your care. You meet with the case manager before surgery, so you know what to expect. This specialist ensures you receive all the services, support and information you need before going home.

Is the Enhanced Recovery Program Right for Me?

You may be eligible for this program if you:

Do not have other medical conditions, like high blood pressure or a heart condition
Have a loved one who can assist you for a few days and a safe home environment
Are having specific types of joint replacement surgery, including a standard hip or knee replacement

Enhanced Recovery After Joint Replacement: What to Expect

If the enhanced recovery program is right for you, here’s what to expect:

Before surgery: We explain the recovery milestones you need to achieve before going home. For example, you need to feel steady on your feet and perform limited movements with your new joint. We also review at-home care instructions, make a follow-up appointment and provide you with necessary prescriptions.
During surgery: You receive a type of pain medication, nerve block, that’s gentler than general anesthesia and easier to recover from. You won’t feel any pain during the procedure.
After surgery: After the nerve block wears off, we help you get out of bed and start moving. You receive your first physical therapy session as soon as possible. And nurses check in on you regularly to help manage pain.
Before you go home: The surgeon performs a brief exam to make sure it’s safe for you to leave. We review at-home care instructions, answer questions and explain how to reach us if you need assistance.
The day after surgery: A nurse calls you at home to see how you are doing. We ask questions to screen for potential problems that could interfere with your recovery. If you are experiencing pain, we discuss medication options and other techniques, such as icing the area.