DEPUY SYNTHES LAUNCHES “PATIENT ATHLETE” PROGRAM (Orthopedics This Week)
Johnson & Johnson’s DePuy Synthes Companies and the Human Performance Institute have developed the Patient Athlete program. The program, according to the company, is part of a J&J wellness platform that focuses on prevention, behavioral health and chronic disease support.
Alex Gorsky, J&J’s chairman and CEO, announced the initiative on February 26, 2015 in Orlando at the Lake Nona Impact Forum. Gorsky said, “Our focus is on driving innovation and progressing platforms and opportunities that will improve patient outcomes, control rising health care costs and enhance the patient experience.”
The Patient Athlete program, according to the company, “helps joint replacement patients take their experience beyond pain reduction to learning how to bring their full and best energy to the people and things that matter most in their lives—both before and after their surgery.”
“The positive outcomes reported by both joint replacement surgeons and patients who used the program have reinforced our belief that the key to sustained behavior change requires alignment to an individual’s purpose, or what matters most in their lives,” said Len Greer, president of J&J Health and Wellness Solutions. “The Patient Athlete program demonstrates how we are going beyond getting patients ‘back to normal’ to helping them achieve a ‘better than normal’ new life, reflecting our commitment to help individuals live vibrant and longer lives.”
Managing Energy
A video on the company website states that dealing with the stress of pain and surgery is all about managing energy. The program uses science-based energy techniques used at the Human Performance Institute for professional athletes, surgeons and CEOs. The program includes two 15-minute videos about energy management each week for the four weeks leading up to surgery.
Tools in the program include:
- Self-guided, video-based training program led by a Performance Coach who had bilateral knee replacements and used these same concepts to enhance his own experience
- Utilizes science-based tools and techniques from the Human Performance Institute
- Eight core lessons (two per week) to complete over the four week period prior to surgery
- Ideas for immediate application with simple action steps
- Eleven refresher lessons to complete post-surgery for sustained focus and encouragement
A survey of patients who have participated in the program shows that 52% were less fearful and 70% were more confident of the surgery. Also, 55% of patients reported feeling like they recovered more quickly than expected.