Center for Joint Replacement
A Specialized Center, Centered Around You
When asked why they come to us for joint replacement surgery, our patients simply say, “Why go anywhere else?”
St. Vincent's HealthCare's program spans the entire joint replacement experience and is built on the things that matter most: clinical excellence, innovation, and patient education.
We are proud to have some of the highest trained orthopedic surgeons in Florida operating within our Joint Replacement Center. All of our surgeons share a passion for restoring active lifestyles, and many are fellowship-trained in joint replacement.
Clinical Excellence
St. Vincent’s Medical Center is home to Jacksonville’s first and only Joint Commission Certified Orthopedic Center of Excellence. The Gold Seal of Approval recognizes our dedication to Clinical Excellence. We successfully met the requirements for certification in all three of the following areas addressed by the Joint Commission’s Disease-Specific Care Certification Program:
- Compliance with consensus-based national standards and safety goals
- Effective use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care
- An organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities
Learn more about the Quality Check Certification.
Innovation
Because our team is active, both academically and clinically, they have access to the latest treatments and newest technologies. They are consistently among the first in the region to perform cutting-edge and innovative orthopedic surgeries. A few of our many accomplishments include:
- The first in Northeast Florida to offer Pre-operative Joint Replacement Education classes. Patient Education prior to Joint Replacements has been proven to provide better outcomes and higher patient satisfaction.
- First in Northeast Florida to offer a custom partial knee replacement. This procedure involves a minimal incision and less bone removal.
- First in Northeast Florida to perform minimally invasive knee and hip replacement surgery. St. Vincent’s Center of Orthopedic Excellence Medical Director, R. David Heekin, MD, FACS, is both nationally and internationally recognized for having actively pioneered this technology.
- St. Vincent’s Medical Center is home to Jacksonville’s first and only Joint Commission Certified Orthopedic Center of Excellence. The Joint Commission awarded this certification to us after a visit to the hospital and an intensive review of its total knee and total joint replacement programs. The Joint Commission is the nation’s premier healthcare accreditation entity.
Patient Education
As part of the rehabilitation process at St. Vincent’s HealthCare, patients are expected to attend pre-operative education, or "PreHab," prior to undergoing Total Joint Replacement surgery. In 2004, St. Vincent’s Medical Center was among the first hospitals in Florida to offer such a program, and the success since has been overwhelming. This is a one-time class offered three times weekly on Monday, Wednesday, or Friday from 1 to 2 p.m.
Answers to Joint Questions
Help For Your Bones
