Welcoming the New Joint Replacement Center Joint Care Coordinator

Angie Miller, Certified Athletic Trainer at Heartland Orthopedic Specialists for the past five years, is now the Joint Care Coordinator for the Joint Replacement Center at Douglas County Hospital.

Erin McCoy, former Joint Care Coordinator, has been promoted to Director of Rehabilitation Services. Erin will continue to be in touch with patient rehabilitation and work closely with Angie.

The Joint Care Coordinator’s critical role attributes to the success of the Joint Replacement Center. Angie will work with patients from the beginning, from preoperative education through their hospital stay and discharge.

“Our program emphasizes patient and family involvement in recovery, and we begin the education process with preoperative teaching,” says Angie. “Preparing patients and families to understand what to expect before, during, and after surgery is one of the best ways we can help them feel less anxious about the experience.”

As the Joint Care Coordinator, Angie is able to:

• Answer questions and direct patients to specific resources within the hospital
• Assess patients’ needs at home, including caregiver availability
• Coordinate a patient’s discharge plans to outpatient services, home, or a skilled nursing facility
• Assist in getting answers to insurance questions
• Act as a patient and caregiver liaison throughout the course of treatment, from preoperative through postoperative discharge

For questions about our Joint Replacement Center, please call our Joint Care Coordinator, Angie Miller, at (320) 762-6661.