Geisinger hosting free event spotlighting knee replacement

Area residents can learn about knee replacement surgery and how to recover successfully at a free event Wednesday, Aug. 19, at 5:30 p.m. at the Geisinger School of Medicine campus, 525 Pine St., Scranton.  

“Walk This Way: Recovering After Knee Replacement” will feature Geisinger orthopaedic surgeon James Murphy, MD, who will explain the knee replacement process — from evaluating candidacy to recovering and staying active after surgery. 

Knee replacement is a common procedure, yet many patients and families have questions about when surgery is appropriate, what it involves and how to achieve the best possible recovery.  

Murphy will explain: 

  • – How to determine if knee replacement is the right option 
  • – The latest technology, including robotic-assisted surgery 
  • – Strategies for maintaining mobility and staying active during recovery 
  • – Rapid recovery protocols 

Murphy is an adult reconstruction specialist with expertise in robotic knee replacements, hip replacements, rapid recovery protocols and revision surgery. He completed his medical training at The Pennsylvania State University, his residency at Case Western Reserve University and his fellowship in adult reconstruction at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is certified by the American Board of Orthopedic Surgery. 

The event is free and open to the public. Registration is encouraged. Visit go.geisinger.edu/walkthisway or contact gchscommunityevents@geisinger.edu. 

This event is part of Geisinger’s Third Wednesday Community Education Series, which brings trusted health expertise to the Scranton community each month. Murphy is available for interviews before the event. 

Geisinger, Medacta Partner to Guarantee Outcomes for Knee Hip and Shoulder Replacement Surgeries

Going for a joint replacement surgery is a major decision made by patients and it often goes through various stages of deliberation. Geisinger, one of the nation’s most innovative health systems, Geisinger Health Plan and Medacta, a high-growth, pure play orthopaedics company, announced today that they will offer a two-year guarantee for total hip, knee and shoulder replacement surgeries. The guarantee applies to all patients who are a member of a qualifying Geisinger Health Plan and remain in the care of a Geisinger provider.

Geisinger, through its partnership with Medacta, also offers a lifetime guarantee for total hip, knee and revision knee replacement surgeries for qualifying patients.

Joint replacement surgeries are very common and safe for the treatment of severe osteoarthritis. However, this guarantee provides much-needed peace-of-mind for patients who need surgery to relieve their joint pain. Patients with comorbidities are also included in the guarantee. Comorbidity is a major factor in determining the outcomes of various orthopaedic conditions. Patients with comorbidities have higher revision rates than patients without comorbidities.

“We understand that the decision to have surgery is not made lightly. This guarantee offers patients a sense of security while making that crucial decision,” said Michael Suk, M.D., J.D., chair of the Geisinger Musculoskeletal Institute. “Geisinger is centered around making health easier. We offer world-class joint replacement expertise to our patients and we’re willing to stand behind our surgeries for a lifetime. We are proud of this ground-breaking offering because of the many benefits it brings our patients, both physically and mentally.”

A global leader in orthopaedic medical devices, Medacta provides uncommon resources to train surgeons–including those at Geisinger–in surgical techniques and the use of their specially-designed hip, knee and shoulder implants for minimally-invasive surgeries. Medacta innovative Solutions, among which its patient-matched technologies (MyKnee®, MyShoulder®, MyHip®) to facilitate accurate implant positioning and OR efficiency through advanced 3D pre-operative planning and patient specific instruments, and its Anterior Minimally Invasive Surgery (AMIS®) technique for hip replacements, are designed to enable a healthy and active lifestyle for every patient, reducing postoperative pain and shortening the rehabilitation time.

“The promotion of patient well-being by advancing surgical approaches, implants and instruments through responsible innovation, is a cornerstone of Medacta’s mission,” said Francesco Siccardi, Chief Executive Officer at Medacta International. “This expansion of our successful value-based initiatives with Geisinger, initiated in 2018 launching the hip replacement program with positive responses, demonstrates how Medacta brings our patient focused mission to life.”   

In 2014, Geisinger launched ProvenCare Hip Fracture, Total Hip, Total Knee and Lumbar Spine in yet another chapter of the health system’s transformative care. In 2018, in association with Medacta, Geisinger became the first health system to offer a lifetime guarantee for eligible total hip replacements. In 2019, Geisinger extended the same lifetime guarantee to eligible new knee replacement surgeries.

Patients are encouraged to find out more from their doctors on both the two-year and lifetime guarantees. For more information, please visit www.geisinger.org/ortho.