 This past December marked the 10th anniversary for Ascension Health's hip and knee joint replacement program. On top of that, the hospital is also celebrating their program's record of more than 500 joint and hip replacements in the last year. The hip and knee joint replacement program prepares patients as well as their caretakers for what should be expected before and after the procedure during a patient recovery. They are cared for by hip and joint specialists and can also participate in group physical therapy. As a result, patients have experienced a faster recovery. We do things in a group setting in a kind of camp setting where people rehab and go through educational sessions together. When they are together they tend to build a sense of camaraderie and support. They rehab faster and better. Our turnaround times in the states in the hospital have all gone down significantly. Recovery times are basically shortening by probably about I would say 70 percent down most because from three-day stay to sometimes a one or two-day stay. Ascension Health's program is the only the second in the state to receive the Joint Commission's gold seal of approval. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.