Ashley Sanders: One Step Ahead
June 19, 2023
Ashley Sanders understands what it takes to recover from total joint replacement. A physical therapy assistant who has worked at Beaufort Memorial for the past nine years, the outdoors-loving mother of three has helped countless patients with new knees or hips recover strength and reach their goals. In April 2021, however, she found herself in her patients’ position — she needed surgery to replace her painful right knee. Eight years after first injuring the joint, a new injury led her to seek joint replacement.
“I tripped and fell into a hole on my pool deck, and my knee hit the concrete edge of the pool,” Ashley says. “I knew then it was time for a knee replacement. Even before that, however, the symptoms had been worsening. It had been getting harder to walk.”
Orthopedic Surgeon Dr. H. Kevin Jones at Beaufort Memorial Orthopaedic Specialists agreed a knee replacement would help and scheduled Ashley’s procedure.
Read More: Learn the Right Time to Have Knee Replacement Surgery
Comprehensive Checkup
A few weeks before her surgery date, Ashley visited the Preoperative Assessment Clinic (PAC) at Beaufort Memorial with Dr. Jones’ referral. Established in 2020, the PAC helps prepare patients for surgery by educating them about what to expect and evaluating their health to ensure they can have a procedure safely.
“Usually, these patients have at least one health condition in addition to the issue requiring surgery,” says Jaime Cuff, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, advanced practice registered nurse and board-certified family nurse practitioner at the PAC. “We see approximately 85% to 95% of patients scheduled for total joint replacements, as well as patients preparing to have other types of surgery.”
During Ashley’s appointment at the PAC, the clinic team checked her vital signs and performed a thorough physical exam. They also helped settle her mind about the surgery.
“I’m not an anxious person, but I had some anxiety about my surgery,” Ashley adds. “The PAC staff provided motivation and encouragement, and they told me it was going to be OK. They gave me the tools and information I needed going into the surgery.”
Read More: Having a Total Hip Replacement? Here's What to Expect
Surprising Discovery
Before her appointment, Ashley knew she had an electrical abnormality in her heart called a left bundle branch block. During her physical exam, however, the family nurse practitioner detected another issue — a heart murmur.
“I was preparing to have a significant surgery with anesthesia, so I wanted to cross all the T’s and dot all the I’s,” Ashley says. “The next step was to see a cardiologist. This was only two or three weeks before my surgery date, so we were up against a tight timeline. The whole team pulled together to help me get the appointment so I could meet my surgery date.”
Ashley is not the only patient to receive an unexpected diagnosis at the PAC. The clinic regularly uncovers chronic conditions and other important information, such as Type 2 diabetes, that patients are unaware of.
“The PAC has identified conditions that could or would have canceled a surgery if not identified before the procedure,” Cuff says. “We assist patients in modifying their risk factors and educate them about what their diagnosis means.”
As a result, Cuff adds, the team has been able to reduce postoperative complications, such as surgical-site infections and deep vein thrombosis, as well as hospital readmissions.
Read More: Recovering from Joint Replacement Surgery
Feeling Like Her Old Self
With help from the PAC team and her physicians, Ashley was able to have her joint replacement as scheduled.
“I rehabbed myself since it’s what I do for a living,” Ashley says. “By the first or second week of July, I was out on the river riding jet skis with my brother.”
Ashley, who just passed the two-year anniversary of her surgery, is back to her active lifestyle and still appreciates the team at the PAC for helping her stay on track for her surgery — and for giving her more insight into her health.
“I’m grateful to the clinic for finding the heart murmur,” Ashley says. “This condition hasn’t changed my life, but I’m aware of it now, and I know I’ll need to inform the surgeon if I need any medical procedures in the future. To me, detecting the heart murmur was a big catch.”
A VIP For Community Health
Beaufort Memorial serves a diverse population with diverse health needs, and the PAC plays a vital role in improving the health of our community. Few facilities in our area offer the level of care available at the PAC.
“When we identify conditions such as diabetes, we get the patient in with their primary care provider or refer them to a nutritionist or other specialist so they can get the care they need,” says Jaime Cuff, MSN, APRN, FNP-BC, advanced practice registered nurse and board-certified family nurse practitioner at the PAC. “We then follow the patient and communicate with the surgeon during the process.” The PAC team coordinates care with as many members of the health care team as possible, so patients can have their procedures.
“I think one of the things we do very well is sit with the patient and explain clearly why we are doing the things we’re doing, whether ordering labs, a chest X-ray, an EKG, an echocardiogram or a stress test, to help them be the best they can be prior to their surgery,” Cuff says.
If knee or hip pain is keeping you from enjoying the activities you love, attend a Solving Hip and Knee Pain seminar or discuss your options with an orthopedic specialist.