Calling All Former Patients! What Should Current Patients Know?
Patients going through their total joint replacement journey often ask:
“Am I alone?”
“Am I the only one experiencing these symptoms?”
“Is this unique to me?”
Who better to answer these questions than former patients who have gone through the same things?
The AMD3 Foundation, in partnership with goShadow and the Bone and Joint Center at UPMC Magee-Womens Hospital, is creating a NEW and FUN way for patients to learn about bone and joint pain, treatment options, and tips for success. The AMD3 Total Joint Replacement Surgery Activity Book will be a collection of funny, unexpected, or helpful insights from former total joint replacement patients to share with those who are just getting started.
What is the purpose of the activity book?
Our goal is to build patient confidence and reduce anxiety by harnessing the shared experiences of arthritis sufferers and total joint replacement patients to support and educate our patient community.
Total joint replacement surgeries can be hard to navigate alone. In each step of the process, patients have many questions, from arthritis pain diagnosis and evaluation onward through recovery from joint replacement surgery. These questions are often accompanied by feelings of isolation and uncertainty. Although care providers can answer their questions, the stories from patients who have gone through the same journey may help patients feel that they are not alone.
What’s all included in the Activity Book?
Along with patient insights and advice, it will include fun and educational activities like word searches to keep the reader occupied during appointments or in the comfort of their home. Finally, each patient insight will be accompanied by helpful tools and resources provided by the AMD3 Foundation or our clinical partners.
Where will the Activity Book be distributed?
The Activity Book will be distributed to patients during their pre-operative testing appointment at the Bone and Joint Center and their 30 day postoperative office visit.
What do you need from former patients?
We’re asking our community members to share their insights about joint replacement surgery for us to include in our first issues of the AMD3 TJR Activity Book. This is your chance to help someone about to go through the same experience you did. We can’t do it without you!
Your answers could range from pain experienced and pain management, what physical therapy is like, the hospital experience...food, toilets, TV channels, etc. The sky's the limit! What would you tell patients who are about to receive a joint replacement? Make it funny if you’d like. But above all, make it helpful.