myHip&Knee: Improving Patient Engagement and Self-Management Through Mobile Technology.

Given the increasing volume of hip and knee replacement surgery with reduced hospital stays and resources, we explored technology to address gaps in patient care and enhance self-management. The team at the Holland Orthopaedic and Arthritic Centre of Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, which performs a high volume of joint replacement surgery, partnered with patients and a health technology company to create a mobile app: myHip&Knee. The results to date demonstrate that the app improves patient experience and reduces follow-up calls to surgeons' offices, ultimately reducing demand on healthcare resources.

A framework for the development and implementation of an advanced practice role for physiotherapists that improves access and quality of care for patients.

A new model of care has been implemented at the Sunnybrook Holland Orthopaedic and Arthritic Centre that expands the role of physiotherapists to improve access and quality of care for patients requiring hip and knee replacement surgery. An advanced practice physiotherapist (APP) role was created to support both referral management and post-operative care to reduce surgeon workload and better streamline services. This article describes our nine-step framework for implementing an APP role and can be used as a template for other organizations evolving similar roles.

Toward a joint health and disease management program. Toronto hospitals partner to provide system leadership.

The Joint Health and Disease Management Program in the Toronto Central Local Health Integration Network (TC LHIN) is envisioned as a comprehensive model of care for patients with hip and knee arthritis. It includes access to assessment services, education, self-management programs and other treatment programs, including specialist care as needed. As the first phase of this program, the hospitals in TC LHIN implemented a Hip and Knee Replacement Program to focus on improving access and quality of care, coordinating services and measuring wait times for patients waiting for hip or knee replacement surgery.