Before Joint Replacement Surgery

Empower yourself with information about how to make your joint replacement surgery go smoothly at EvergreenHealth. With our comprehensive preparation process, you'll feel confident knowing you're in good hands and ready for treatment.

Choose a Caregiver

Ask a close family member or friend to join you at preoperative appointments, where they'll learn how to help care for you during recovery. This person will need to drive you home from the hospital or surgery center and stay with you at home for at least three to five days.

Get Your Guidebook and Patient Education

Once you schedule surgery, you'll receive your patient passport—our detailed guidebook that explains every step of your journey through hip replacement or total/partial knee replacement. Bring it with you to appointments for help completing instructions and checking to-do items off your list. You will also be signed up for our virtual patient education platform, which will give you access to education and exercise videos, and additional information to help you navigate your total joint experience.

Get in Good Shape

To make sure you're healthy enough for surgery, you'll receive lab tests, an electrocardiogram (heart test), and a physical therapy functional assessment evaluation. You may also need a computed tomography (CT) scan of your joint to help the surgeon plan your procedure.

If you must lose weight or improve your heart health, lung health, or diabetes before treatment, we'll connect you to specialists who can help. Regardless of your current health, your surgeon may recommend starting physical therapy before surgery to help strengthen your muscles, so you recover as well as possible.

All or most of your EvergreenHealth providers will be on the same campus for your convenience. They work closely together to give you well-rounded, seamless care across specialties and help you get in your best shape for surgery.

Watch Our Pre-Op Educational Videos

Understanding the surgery process beforehand helps you feel more relaxed and prepared for treatment—we're here to answer all of your questions and do everything possible to make the experience match your needs and personal preferences. Watch our educational video with the person who will be your at-home caregiver to learn about topics such as:

• Home preparation
• Caregiver duties
• Medical equipment and supplies
• Discharge (going home) after surgery
• Medication

Total Hip Replacement

Total Knee Replacement

Talk to a Care Manager

Before joint replacement surgery, you may speak with an EvergreenHealth care manager or reach out to our Community Health Access Team (CHAT) about your home care needs and recovery plan. Your care manager or CHAT representative will talk to your doctor, nurses, and rehabilitation therapists to arrange for you to get the medical equipment and help you need with daily tasks during recovery.

Complete a Health Assessment

Three to 10 days before surgery, a registered nurse from our pre-op clinic will call to evaluate your health. The nurse will:

• Review your medical history, including results of lab or X-ray tests, and order any additional tests you may need
• Give instructions for eating, drinking, and taking medication before and after surgery
• Tell you other instructions for your specific procedure

Ask questions to make sure you understand what the nurse says and feel ready for surgery.

Understand the Benefits & Risks

Like any surgical procedure, joint replacement carries some health risks, such as bleeding or infection. Talk to your surgeon about the:

• Benefits and risks based on your lifestyle, health, age, and other factors
• Ways your care team works to keep you safe
• What you can do to improve your outcome

Learn More

Learn what to expect in the days before surgery at the location where you'll receive treatment: EvergreenHealth Medical Center or Evergreen Surgery Center.