HIP & KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS SURGICAL PROGRAM
Program Participants
The Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis (H&K OA) Surgical Program was first established in Alberta in 2004. Today, it includes 15 hospitals and 12 central intake clinics, who provide high quality of care and services for arthroplasty patients.
Case Management with a Multidisciplinary Team
What does the clinic do for the patient?
The hip and knee central intake clinics provide a variety of services to meet patient expectations and needs for specialty care. The clinics implement the provincial care path practices and treatment protocols, beginning with referral and extending through: assessment by a specialist, a plan to get surgical patients to their optimal readiness, surgery, recovery and rehabilitation in the community. For patients deemed inappropriate for surgery or for those that decline surgery, a self-management plan is also developed with the provider.
What does the operating site do for the patient?
The patient will undergo preoperative preparation and then surgery. A multidisciplinary team will support them in their initial post-operative recovery before they return home.
Individual sites may vary in their operational structure and practices.