For Betty Jo Bruce, it was gardening she missed. For Ann Mitchell, it was not being able to clean her home. For Hadley Ennis, it was fishing. All three of these former patients discovered that joint pain was not something they had to accept. They all reclaimed their lost independence, and the joy of their favorite activities, through The Joint Replacement Center at DePaul.
 DePaul Medical Center now offers a comprehensive joint replacement program. This specialized program is dedicated to helping individuals overcome pain and recover mobility. The center guides patients through the entire process — from educational classes to rehabilitation, and home care.
“People appreciate this program because we have all the services they need for recovery,” said Diana McLaughlin, Director of Musculoskeletal Services at DePaul. “We have some of the most skilled orthopedic surgeons, nurses specially trained in orthopedics, and complete rehabilitative services. Patients can feel confident that their recovery will be quick and complete. You won’t have to search for services — they’re all part of The Joint Replacement Center at DePaul.”
 Since knee and hip replacements are elective surgeries, treatment focuses on regaining mobility. Patients wear casual clothing, enjoy a large private room and bath, an on-site hairdresser, group meals, and fun activities. Patients participate in therapy and activities together — they become friends, compare notes, and provide each other with encouragement.
Dr. G. Raymond Payne, of Atlantic Orthopaedic Specialists, serves as the medical director at The Joint Replacement Center at DePaul. He stresses the educational focus of the program. “The more people know about what’s going to happen to them,” says Dr. Payne, “they feel more comfortable and are better equipped for recovery.”
 Patients, family members and friends attend classes prior to surgery to learn about the joint replacement process. Each patient is given a notebook that includes detailed information about the surgery and rehabilitation, including exercises to maintain mobility. Physicians and staff members are available throughout recovery to provide information and answer questions.
The physicians are board-certified in orthopedics. Dr. Payne is one of only a handful of area physicians who are fellowship trained in joint replacement. With the expertise of these medical professionals, state of the art equipment and procedures, and a focus on keeping patients involved in their recovery from start to finish, The Joint Replacement Center at DePaul is the only logical place to seek assistance with hip and knee difficulties.
If you have joint pain or limited mobility, this is definitely the program that can help you to regain your independence. According to Dr. Payne, “people come in feeling almost crippled and unable to do many of the things they love. Once the pain is gone, they can go fishing again, get back to gardening, or just be pain free. Their whole outlook on life changes — they’re ecstatic.”
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