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A group of patients in the Dominican Republic will receive joint replacement and rehabilitation this spring thanks to Operation Walk Boston, a group of BWH clinicians led by Chief of Orthopedic Surgery Thomas S. Thornhill, MD.
More than 40 BWHers, including surgeons, orthopedic residents, anesthesiologists, nurses and OR staff, physical therapists and a pharmacist, will participate in the fourth annual mission, which will provide 62 total joint replacements to 46 pre-screened patients who cannot afford the cost of surgery in their country.
In Santo Domingo, the country’s capital, many individuals cannot provide for their families due to the disabling physical limitations of degenerative arthritis or trauma. Others cannot even walk around their homes because they lack basic equipment, like canes and walkers.
“Our supplies have been shipped to the host hospital, and now all that’s missing is the team,” said Roya Ghazinouri, PT, DPT, MS, BWH’s clinical supervisor for Inpatient Physical Therapy and chief operating officer for Operation Walk. “We’re all eager to arrive and begin working to restore quality of life for many new patients and to follow-up with patients from previous missions.”
For the second year, rheumatologist Jeffrey Katz, MD, director, Orthopedic and Arthritis Center for Outcomes Research, is leading outcomes research on patients who were operated on during previous Operation Walk Boston missions. The group is looking forward to conducting follow-up visits with patients operated on in 2009 and 2010.
The group leaves for its fourth annual trip March 23. Read updates on the Operation Walk Boston blog at www.operationwalkboston.blogspot.com