New Web App for Hip and Knee Replacement

Virtua is the first New Jersey hospital to offer a web-based interactive care plan for hip and knee replacement patients at its Joint Replacement Institute.

The program, Wellbe, is an innovative online tool that assists patients step-by-step through customized plans of care, offering educational and communication tools specific to their procedures that explains what to expect before, during, and after surgery.

"This interactive platform offers resources to patients within 24 hours of scheduling their surgery,” said Dr. Scott D. Schoifet, Medical Director for Joint Replacement Services at Virtua Joint Replacement Institute. “We want to ensure that our patients know what to expect and to be an active participant in their care plan.”

Wellbe is provided to all hip and knee replacement patients at Virtua Joint Replacement Institute at no cost. Patients can access the platform via PC, tablet or smartphone. Making this convenient, online resource available to patients is an important component of Virtua’s patient safety and quality care program.

Enrolled patients get online access to the following information:

• Timely guidance on what to do  prior to surgery and what’s coming up next
• Checklists and reminders to make the surgical journey less stressful
• Convenient check-ins to make sure they stay on track with their care plan
• Ability to complete forms online to simplify paperwork
• Surveys to provide the surgeon and care team with important feedback
• Updates delivered to family members as patients progress through the program

"Virtua is a forward-thinking organization with an outstanding reputation for excellence in joint replacement surgery,” said James Dias, CEO of Wellbe. "Patients in South Jersey can now realize the full benefit of high quality medicine combined with the personalized online services that they’ve come to expect in all other aspects of their lives."

About Virtua Joint Replacement Institute 
The Virtua Joint Replacement Institute is a state-of-the-art facility specifically designed for the care of hip and knee replacements patients, in fact, hip and knee surgeries are the only type of procedures performed at the Institute. The Institute is one of the only centers in the region specializing in minimally invasive joint replacement surgery. The Institute is staffed by fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons, orthopedic specialty nurses, and orthopedic physical therapists. It offers among the most scientifically advanced operating suites and recovery areas, as well as its own physical therapy gym. All rooms are private and filled with natural light. Each room has a private bath, flat screen television, internet access and a comfortable sitting area and sofa bed for a loved one to stay. The Virtua Joint Replacement Institute consistently achieves the 99th percentile in patient satisfaction scores, the highest possible rating, according to the national HCAHPS survey. Virtua patients are so extremely satisfied with their experience that they would enthusiastically recommend knee or hip replacement surgery at the Institute to others. The Institute is devoted to joint replacement in every aspect of care.

About Wellbe 
Wellbe, the inventor of the cloud-based Guided CarePath, works with health providers to engage patients as partners in their episodes of care. Our Guided CarePaths empower patients to learn and take the actions required to achieve better outcomes at lower costs. High-performing hospitals use Wellbe’s Connected Care solutions to improve the experience and efficiency of helping patients to successfully navigate their medical treatments and surgeries. For more information, visit www.wellbe.me.

 

March 8, 2016