Thread by @NatashaEmmCee

I've had three major joint replacements surgeries since 2016. I spent (maybe) a TOTAL of 6 hours in the actual operating room(s). Before each surgery I had to do multiple full days of other pre-op stuff, like....

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https://twitter.com/CBCCalgary/status/1235312586654199809

Bloodwork - two separate visits for bloodwork at different labs for each surgery (cause only specific labs do cross-matches in case you need a blood transfusion).

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Pre-op visit to my Family Doctor: Family docs have to basically do a full physical on anyone going for major surgery. (This kind of visit takes longer than just 10 minutes, TRUST ME!)

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Anyone getting joint replacement surgery has to also see their Dentist and get a pre-op dental clearance. Another appointment.

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It is recommended that you see a physiotherapist BEFORE your surgery to do some PRE-hab to get as strong as possible before surgery (AHS covers 6 visits pre-op/6 visits post op with a physio - or at least they did last I checked)
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And then you have to do a FULL DAY of Joint Replacement School with a bunch of other patients, all learning about life after the OR. You see a PT, OT, nurse, your surgeon & usually another Internal med doc to make sure all is good to go.
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Keep in mind, you haven't even come close to an OR room in all this time, but you sure have seen a whole lot of other health care professionals.

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And yes, this wait time can be long - I waited 6 months to see my new surgeon after my old one retired and then it was another 7-8 months before I did Joint Replacement School and then another 2 months before surgery.

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SURGERY DAY ARRIVES. You are in & out of surgery relatively quickly, back on the ward, and up & walking within a few hours. You maybe see your surgeon & the OR room for all of 2 min. Nurses, OTs and PTs DO EVERY THING ELSE.

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At the #yeg Ortho centre - they want you out and home within 24-48 hours. This is standard practice now. As long as you can walk up and down a few stairs and are peeing/pooping, out your go!

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Your rehab is up to you. You have exercises to do daily, you have to manage your pain at home, you usually can't drive for 4-6 weeks, and then you have a follow up appointment at 3 mos. You see OT/PT/Nurse and maybe surgeon again.
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And if you have another joint to be replaced after all this - guess what? You have to do ALL OF IT ALL OVER AGAIN.

And I think somewhere in there I forgot about the pre and post op X-rays too.

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My point is telling you all this is that, yes, it's great that @shandro and the UCP are giving $100 Million to upgrade OR rooms. But what about all the different health care professionals who support the work done in those ORs?

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OR wait times are a problem, but maybe we could support the doctors & nurses & allied health professionals who actually do the work to get patients to and then keep them out of the ORs a bit more

IT REALLY IS ABOUT MORE THAN JUST THE OR!

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