Matt Guthrie 
Despite the mild to moderate arthritis that had nagged him for years, Nick McKinney kept plenty busy. Between walks with his wife and dog and playtime with his grandkids, the 68-year-old East Greenwich, R.I., resident found time to occasionally take his prized sports car out for a spin and even sail with friends on the East Bay.
But last summer, the advanced osteoarthritis in McKinney’s right hip became especially bad, putting a crimp in his active lifestyle. When the pain persisted even with physical therapy and anti-inflammatory medication, McKinney sought help from Gary Ferguson, MD, a hip replacement specialist and the Quality-Assurance Director of Orthopedic Surgery for Southcoast.
“Nick’s X-ray told us that his arthritis had progressed to severe, and the prognosis was no longer great for nonsurgical treatments. At that point, Nick’s pain warranted a total hip replacement,” recalled Dr. Ferguson, who performs surgeries exclusively at Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River.
“Dr. Ferguson explained the process in detail and assured me that I’d be up walking with a walker the very first day after surgery — and back home by day three,” McKinney said. “I thought he was kidding! This was major surgery. But Dr. Ferguson said, ‘Yes, but it is perfected major surgery.’ And he was right. My recovery was amazing.”
McKinney came out of surgery lucid, since Dr. Ferguson uses a less invasive spinal anesthesia, and he was up walking that same afternoon. The next day’s physical therapy session focused on negotiating stairs. “By day three, at noon, I went home,” McKinney said. “By four months out, I was fully recovered. The fact that I had extraordinary care — and a surgeon who had me walking right away — made all the difference.”
Before scheduling his hip replacement, McKinney familiarized himself with Southcoast’s Total Joint Replacement program — which he found impressive. Relying on the most advanced technology, minimally invasive techniques and the expertise of 21 board-certified and fellowship-trained surgeons, Southcoast performs more than 4,000 orthopedic procedures annually, including more than 850 joint replacements and 2,000 outpatient procedures.
McKinney also participated in Southcoast’s pre-surgery Joint Boot Camp, a one-hour class and question-and-answer session that helped put his mind even further at ease.
“Roughly one to four weeks before their procedures, patients come to Charlton Memorial, and we review everything they can expect from the night before surgery to after they return home,” said Alicia Pimentel, RN, BSN, CIC, the program’s Director and a Nurse Manager at Charlton Memorial.
A nurse, physical therapist and case manager help teach the class, allowing patients to ask questions about every step of the process.
“We stress that the entire joint replacement procedure — even long into recovery — is a partnership,” she added. “You’re never alone.”
Dr. Ferguson corroborates this emphasis on team unity, adding that the foundation of Southcoast’s orthopedic program is excellent communication and flexible relationships among specialists, which promote quick, seamless collaboration and a team-wide commitment to continually enhancing patient care.
Just one example of the collective efforts of Dr. Ferguson’s team and that of the Joint Boot Camp is that Southcoast is now discharging more patients directly to their homes instead of to rehab facilities.
As for Nick McKinney, he’s back to the active life he loves. “My hip feels like it did when I was 18,” he said.
“I’m starting to work out again, and I haven’t felt this good in years.”
Making a Difference
As explained by Gary Ferguson, MD, hip replacement specialist and Quality-Assurance Director for orthopedic surgery, Southcoast Health’s advanced and effective integrated approach to all orthopedic needs comes down to the three C’s:
Collaboration: Nurses, therapists, case managers, consultants, physicians, family members, and the patient are all regarded as part of the same team.
Communication: Members of the extended medical team are well versed in all aspects of every other team member’s job, which improves communication, reduces duplication of services, and promotes quick, seamless responses to individual patient diagnoses and needs.
Commitment: “We explore every possible option in order to restore patients to the highest possible level of function,” says Dr. Ferguson.
For more on Southcoast’s orthopedic services, watch the following video featuring Dr. Ferguson and his colleague Michael Langworthy, MD, Chair of Orthopedic Surgery:
Find out more about Southcoast’s Orthopedic Services or call 844-744-5544 to schedule an appointment.
