Indianapolis, Nov. 19, 2019 – The Joint Commission has awarded Eskenazi Health the Core Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement. Awarded for excellence in patient care, the certification is given to programs that meet certain performance standards set by The Joint Commission.

According to The Joint Commission, the certification process helps identify and measure areas for performance improvement, focusing on areas such as surgical site infection rates, fall rates, enhanced patient education, length of stay, early ambulation and pain management.

The Eskenazi Health Total Joint Replacement Program was developed in 2015. Providers see about 100 patients each week through the Sandra Eskenazi Outpatient Care Center, and surgeons perform between eight to10 knee replacements and five to seven hip replacements each month. The total joint replacement program is led by Dr. Jason Watters, who was recently named the service chief for Orthopaedics. He is joined by Dr. Andrew Parr, who helped to establish total joint surgical services at Eskenazi Health. 

“Achieving the Core Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement means we will only further develop as a program, as it requires continual improvement to patient care and communication due to the rigorous standards set by The Joint Commission,” said Dr. Watters. “There are many health care providers involved in a total joint replacement, and receiving this certification is a true interdisciplinary effort.”

The Total Joint Replacement Program received the certification following an on-site review conducted by The Joint Commission. It is a 24-month certification. The program has already begun work towards achieving the Advanced Certification for Total Hip and Total Knee Replacement, and the program will be surveyed again in two years.

Patients must be referred to the program by a primary care provider or specialist and meet predetermined criteria in order to be eligible for joint replacement surgery. Patients in need of a primary care provider can call 317.880.7666.

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