title: The coach program - a "joint" approach to patient education and support.
abstract: Hospital lengths of stay for orthopaedic procedures are declining internationally. Discharge home from hospital following total joint replacement surgery can be stressful due to pain and physical restrictions. Thus, many patients report experiencing increased anxiety and feeling a sudden withdrawal of support from their medical team. The Coach Program maximizes human resources and family-centred care by formally integrating an individual whom the patient identifies as their primary support into their health care team. This unique and innovative program was designed to decrease patient anxiety, increase patient confidence, enhance coping with shorter hospital lengths of stay, and smooth the discharge planning process. Anecdotal feedback from patients and staff has been overwhelmingly positive. A pilot self-reported patient survey was conducted. Future steps include distribution and analysis of a more detailed survey to a broader patient population and finding ways to address the needs of patients with limited social support.
authors.affiliation: Holland Orthopaedic and Arthritic Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 3M5. Electronic address: Yaelshaked27@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yael
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shaked
authors.affiliation: Holland Orthopaedic and Arthritic Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 3M5. Electronic address: Patricia.Dickson@sunnybrook.ca.
authors.forename: Patricia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dickson
authors.affiliation: Holland Orthopaedic and Arthritic Centre, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 3M5. Electronic address: Kathy.workman@sunnybrook.ca.
authors.forename: Kathy
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Workman
mesh_terms: D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D001007:Anxiety / Q000523:psychology; D019643:Arthroplasty, Replacement / Q000523:psychology*; D002170:Canada; D005190:Family; D006761:Hospitals / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D010348:Patient Care Team; D010351:Patient Discharge; D018802:Patient-Centered Care; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012944:Social Support; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Family centred care; Hospital length of stay; Total joint replacement surgery