Imagine checking into the hospital in the morning, and leaving that same afternoon with a new hip or knee.

That's exactly what White Rock's Peace Arch Hospital is offering for eligible patients with a new, surgical same-day discharge program. 

Dr. Vic Bubbar, co-local department head of surgery, and Anne Brownlee, director of clinical operations, developed and launched the same-day discharge program last year. 

鈥淲e recently conducted a survey of our patients and the response from those who have participated in the same-day discharge program is overwhelming positive,鈥� says Anne. 鈥淭hey report being well supported before, during, and after their surgery.鈥� 

Having the option to recover at home is great for those who have good supports or young families, among other reasons, a Fraser Health release noted.

The novelty of checking into a hospital in the morning, getting a new hip or knee and then going home the same day isn鈥檛 lost on surgeons like Bubbar.

鈥淚 recall when patients would spend up to a week in hospital recovering from joint replacement surgery,鈥� he said in the release.

South Surrey resident Vicky Atkinson, a recent patient in the program, never imagined she would need hip replacement surgery at 45.

鈥淒uring the pandemic, I ramped up my physical activity with spinning and other sports,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 was leading a healthy, active lifestyle and then began experiencing pain that eventually became chronic to the point where I even had trouble playing outside with my young daughter.鈥�

On Feb. 5, Atkinson had her left hip replaced and, in doing so, became one of 25 patients to date who have gone home the same day after hip or knee replacement surgery at Peace Arch Hospital, the release noted.

Bubbar was quick to credit the larger care team at Peace Arch Hospital 鈥� and the patients themselves 鈥� for the success of the same-day discharge program. 

鈥淲e identify patients who we believe will be successful,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hey must be motivated, medically stable, and have good social supports at home.鈥�

Atkinson admitted she was a bit nervous about checking into hospital in the morning and leaving with a new hip the same day.

鈥淚 was excited and nervous at the same time,鈥� she said, 鈥渂ut I really wanted to be home with my husband and daughter after my surgery.鈥�  

Physicians report that patients who go home the same day after surgery generally report less pain. They tend to heal faster, have fewer complications and are less likely to contract a health care-acquired infection than if they recover in a hospital.

Same-day discharge is also more cost effective, frees up hospital beds and reduces the likelihood of surgery cancellations, the release continued 

鈥淲hen patients are selected for a program like this, they are very motivated to succeed. They are part of an advanced program and take control and ownership of their recovery,鈥� said Bubbar.

Just more than two months after her surgery, Atkinson has almost fully recovered.

鈥淒r. Bubbar, the nurses, physiotherapists, and other health care providers at Peace Arch Hospital provided me with information every step of the way, and I felt very supported,鈥� she says. 鈥淥verall, my quality of life has improved dramatically since I had the surgery.鈥�

Peace Arch joins Abbotsford Regional Hospital, Ridge Meadows Hospital, Eagle Ridge Hospital, Burnaby Hospital and Surrey Memorial Hospital in performing same day arthroplasty (joint replacement surgery).