Western & Southern Financial Group

Why Choose the Joint & Spine Center

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An Exceptional Patient Experience

The Christ Hospital Joint & Spine Center believes family and friends are an important part of every patient's healing process and we are committed to a patient- and family-centered care philosophy. As part of this commitment, we have eliminated visiting hours and encourage loved ones to stay and to participate in care along with the patient, nursing staff and physicians. To make this easier, we even allow a loved-one to stay in the room over night, should they prefer to.

And this philosophy is working - patient satisfaction among our joint and spine patients consistently scores in the top 5-8% of the nation according to Press Ganey, the nation's leading patient satisfaction surveyor. Additional amenities in our rooms include:

• Comfortable, all private rooms with individual control of pillow top, curtains, heating/cooling, lighting and abundant space for family member and visitors
• Wider doorways and larger bathrooms to accommodate postsurgical and disabled patients
• Stunning views of downtown Cincinnati and beyond
• Outdoor spaces and rooftop gardens for respite and rehabilitation
• Patient care and public areas with plentiful natural light
• Patient interactive educational TV
• Personalized dining services.

Advanced Technologies

In order to enhance patient experience, the new center features the finest, most up-to-date, state-of-the-art technologies including:

• Digital imaging equipment
• Computer-assisted surgery devices; robotic- and navigation-assisted surgery
• Surgical suites and instruments
• Card-swipe technology to securely move patients through the facility from admission to discharge
• Patient registration and follow-up appointment scheduling kiosks
• Fully- integrated electronic medical record system
• Digitized records of room numbers, appointments, etc., for easy patient care tracking
• Rehabilitation, conference and training facilities.

Exceptional Outcomes 

The Christ Hospital Joint & Spine Center's world-class team has an established track record of excellent surgical outcomes in both joint replacement and spine care. To get you back to a healthy and active life, the Joint & Spine Center has:

• Operating room technology that allows surgeons to use the most advanced surgical techniques
• Advanced post-operative pain control so effective it may eliminate the use of narcotic medications in some cases
• Nursing staff specialized in caring for joint and spine patients
• Rehabilitation staff who are experts in maximizing recovery after spine surgery or joint replacement
• Excellent length-of-stay results to get you up, out of the hospital and on the road to recovery faster
• Dedicated nurse navigators available to guide you through every step of the process
• Coordination of in-home rehabilitation should that be deemed necessary by your physician.

An Exceptional Facility

The Christ Hospital Joint & Spine Center is first of its kind in the region — and one of only a few in the nation — to provide comprehensive, evidence-based joint and spine care, education and clinical outcomes research in one dynamic facility. The new facility includes all-private inpatient rooms, state-of-the-art operating rooms, rehabilitation space on each patient floor, advanced imaging and lab services all in a beautiful space filled with natural light.

We use a patient- and family-centered approach to care and have designed the Center thoughtfully, with amenities including:

• All private rooms with a comfortable space for family and visitors, including the ability for a loved one to stay overnight in the patient's room
• Patient control of curtains, heating/cooling, lighting, television and bed - all with a push of a button
• Wider doorways and larger bathrooms to accommodate post-surgical and disabled patients
• Stunning views of Downtown Cincinnati and beyond
• Outdoor spaces and rooftop gardens for patients and visitors
• Comfortable, spacious and elegant patient rooms
• Patient care and public areas with abundant natural light
• Patient interactive educational TV
• Personalized dining service, similar to room service, for patients.

About the Heart & Vascular Institute

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While there are many ways to define excellence, for The Heart & Vascular Institute at The Christ Hospital, it is all about our patients and making their health care accessible, personal, and affordable. From our first open-heart surgery in 1969, to current advancements in minimally invasive repair techniques, robotic cardiology innovations, and our dedicated women's heart health center, our highly trained and experienced heart and vascular physicians and surgeons treat all diseases and disorders of the heart and continue to lead the nation in cardiology innovation and surgical expertise.

Since 1995, when our first Heart Health Center was launched, we have dedicated ourselves to providing the best and most compassionate heart care to the Greater Cincinnati and Tristate area. Our long tradition of bringing innovation to this community, to our country, and to the world enables us to offer groundbreaking treatment options available nowhere else in the U.S.

Your cardiovascular appointments and procedures will take place at The Christ Hospital's Heart & Vascular Institute located at 2139 Auburn Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45219.

Cincinnati's Heart Hospital

The Christ Hospital is well-known as Cincinnati's Heart HospitalSM and is consistently recognized as one of the top 50 heart hospitals in the nation. The Christ Hospital's Heart & Vascular Institute provides the region's finest cardiology care. From our groundbreaking cardiology treatment options and surgical innovations, available nowhere else in the country—treatments our physicians helped pioneer—to the dozens of subspecialized programs we have developed, including a dedicated women's heart health center, we are the preferred choice to care for the varied and complex conditions of the heart.

The Heart & Vascular Institute offers a true team approach to cardiology care. Patients may consult with one, two, three, or more physicians from different cardiology specialties and subspecialties as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Our physicians make treatment decisions together, often working side-by-side in the operating room or cardiac catheterization lab. While not every patient needs this type of complex, highly coordinated care, you can rest assured that our skilled team is here for those who do need this expertise.

Innovation and Compassionate Care

The Heart & Vascular Institute at The Christ Hospital provides advanced cardiovascular care in a welcoming, healing environment. From wellness and prevention services, to the latest heart and vascular surgical procedures, our dedicated women's heart center, and our revolutionary clinical research, everything we do is focused on helping people with heart and vascular disease experience the best quality of life possible.

Every doctor, nurse, and care staff member at the Heart & Vascular Institute is dedicated to delivering innovative, exceptional care to you and your family. Our physicians have helped pioneer numerous leading-edge drugs and medical devices. In fact, the Heart & Vascular Institute has provided patients with access to every new cardiovascular intervention technology over the past 25 years. More than 40 cardiologists and surgeons care for patients at the Heart & Vascular Institute and, together with our skilled and compassionate nurses and other clinical staff, provide a program that is truly unparalleled in this region. It's all part of our commitment to upholding The Christ Hospital's long-standing reputation as Greater Cincinnati's Heart HospitalTM.

In addition to providing the most advanced clinical care, every element of the center is designed to promote recovery, with natural features that include a rock garden, a water terrace, rooftop gardens, and views of downtown Cincinnati. Among the many services available at the center are:

• Comprehensive cardiovascular testing, including advanced cardiac imaging
• State-of-the-art cardiac catheterization labs and electrophysiology labs
• Technologically advanced operating rooms, where surgeons perform heart and vascular surgeries using the most innovative and minimally invasive techniques available
• The Cardiovascular Step-Down Unit, where patients recover in comfortable, spacious, private rooms while receiving attentive care from our team

Specialized Care for Critically Ill Patients

At the Heart & Vascular Institute, we provide care for severely ill heart and vascular patients in the center's state-of-the-art Richard T. Farmer Family Cardiovascular Intensive Care Unit (CVICU). Patients in the CVICU are often recovering from a serious event, such as a heart attack or aortic aneurysm. Some are in a state of "cardiogenic shock," which can lead to multiple organ failure. The CVICU offers advanced technology and a level of care that is typically available only at academic medical centers. The 16-bed facility is fully staffed around the clock with a team of different specialists who consult with one another to make care decisions and provide additional therapies, as needed. Physicians in the CVICU work with the center's "shock team" to provide complex therapies including:

• Advanced mechanical ventilation to help patients breathe when unable to do so on their own
• Heart pumps and other implantable devices to support blood flow
• Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO), a form of life support that can provide a bridge to more advanced therapies such as left ventricular assist devices (LVADs)

Exceptional Research & Education

The Carl H. and Edyth Lindner Center for Research and Education at The Christ Hospital has a world-class reputation for international leadership in clinical cardiovascular research and attracts medical industry leaders, which brings new treatments to The Heart & Vascular Institute for patients in Greater Cincinnati—long before those therapies are available elsewhere. This research includes our participation in more than 1,200 clinical trials, including multiple first-in-man and first-in-the-U.S. procedures, which contribute to the Heart & Vascular Institute's best practice standards for cardiology patient care.

Our most recent pioneering treatment options include:

2019 & 2020 FIRST in the world:

• Sievers Mitral repair ring (Robotic)
• Xylorcor in Refractory Angina
• J-Valve-subclavian access (TAVR)

2019 & 2020 FIRST in the US:

• Thoracoscopic MAZE utilizing the epi sense ablation catheter
• JenaValve

2019 & 2020 FIRST in Cincinnati:

• Frozen elephant trunk arch aneurysm repair
• Acurate Valve Trial
• Foldax Trial Heart Valve

2019 & 2020 FIRST at The Christ Hospital:

• Ross Procedure – no other adult hospital offers this

Welcome to World-Class Orthopedic Care!

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The Western & Southern Financial Group's Center of Excellence for joint replacement offers members exceptional outcomes and outstanding patient experiences with the nation's best orthopedic surgeons at The Christ Hospital Joint & Spine Center. You will receive the finest patient care experiences, exceptional clinical outcomes, and significant cost savings through incentives for health plan members.

Members receive one explanation of benefits, which includes the fees for the facility, surgeon and other ancillary costs during the hospital stay. The health plan benefit is 100% coverage with no deductible or co-insurance requirements.  

Let's Get Started!

To get started with the enrollment and eligibility process, please call 513-629-1400 or 1-800-333-1455. We will collect some information, confirm your eligibility, and begin the process of enrolling you into the program. After the completion of this call, our Joint Care Navigator will contact you to discuss the specifics of the program, assist you with questions, and help with scheduling appointments. You may also contact your Human Resources representative regarding specific member incentives.

Welcome to World-Class Cardiac Care!

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Welcome to the Western & Southern Financial Group Heart & Vascular Center of Excellence (COE) at The Christ Hospital where we provide world-class heart and vascular care to Western & Southern Financial Group health plan participants. You will receive the finest patient care experiences, exceptional clinical outcomes, and significant cost savings through incentives for health plan members.

Members receive only one bill and explanation of benefits, which includes fees for the facility, surgeons, and other ancillary costs during the hospital stay or visit. The health plan waives the out-of-pocket costs for members utilizing the COE for included procedures.

Let's Get Started!

To get started with the enrollment and eligibility process, please call 513-263-9194 or send an email to us at HeartCare@TheChristHospital.com. We will collect some information, confirm your eligibility, and begin the process of enrolling you into the program. After the completion of this call, the Cardiac Care Navigator will contact you to discuss the specifics of the program, assist you with questions, and help with scheduling appointments. You may also contact your Human Resources representative regarding specific member incentives.

Covered Procedures

The Christ Hospital Heart & Vascular Center of Excellence programs offers a comprehensive suite of procedures and services where members have access to nationally recognized specialist and sub-specialists. These procedures include cardiac catheterization and stents, pacemakers and various electrophysiology procedures, as well as bypass and valve procedures. The Christ Hospital Cardiac Navigator is there to help triage each patient's unique situation and connect them with the appropriate specialist to determine the most appropriate care path.

Nurse Navigators

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Joint Care Navigator

Our dedicated Joint Care Nurse Navigator is here for you every step of the way. Whether you are considering surgery and have questions about The Christ Hospital Joint & Spine Center or have a question after your joint replacement is complete, you can be confident in knowing you have a consistent, dependable point of contact to help guide you.

Our Joint Care Nurse Navigator is: 

Karen S Gillespie, RN, BSN, ONC
2139 Auburn Avenue
Cincinnati, OH 45219
513-557-4882  Office
513-557-4888  Fax
JointCare@TheChristHospital.com or Karen.Gillespie@TheChristHospital.com

Information Available Through the Joint Care Nurse Navigator

The Nurse Navigator is available to answer nearly all of your questions related to your joint replacement surgery. Common information she can discuss with you includes:

• Guidance on the orthopaedic physician that is right for you
• What to expect before and after your procedure
• Preparing for your appointment with the physician, including imaging and test results to bring
• Help with parking and directions
• Travel and Accommodations recommendations

Learn More About Karen Gillespie

Karen Gillespie has been an orthopaedic nurse for more than 28 years, holding roles as a staff nurse, assistant manager and case manager. After graduating from The Christ Hospital School of Nursing, she went on to receive her Bachelors of Science in Nursing from Xavier University in 1991 and Orthopaedic Nurse certification in 1994. She currently serves as the Treasurer of the Greater Cincinnati Area Chapter of the National Association of Orthopaedic Nurses and is active with the Arthritis Foundation as a committee member for the Jingle Bell Run.

Cardiac Care Navigator

Your dedicated Cardiac Care Navigator is here for you every step of the way. Whether you are scheduling a consultation or considering surgery, you will feel confident knowing you have a consistent, dependable point of contact to assist you, from planning appointments to guiding you through your hospital stay or visit.

The Cardiac Care Navigator is available to discuss information that includes:

• Guidance on the cardiology physician(s) right for you
• What to expect before and after a visit or procedure
• Preparing for your appointment, including necessary imaging and test results
• Help with parking and directions
• Travel and accommodation recommendations

Call to learn more about the Western & Southern Financial Group Cardiology Center of Excellence, or for any questions about an evaluation, surgical procedure, or after your visit or care is complete.

To reach a Cardiac Care Navigator, call 513-263-9194 or email heartcare@thechristhospital.com

Directions & Parking

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Parking at our main campus in Mt. Auburn

​The address for our main campus is:
2139 Auburn Ave.
Cincinnati, OH 45219

Parking

Free parking is provided to our patients and visitors in four separate parking garages and/or lots on our main campus.

How do I park for The Heart & Vascular Institute?

We recommend that you park in the P3 garage or you may use valet parking in front of The Heart & Vascular Institute.

P3 Access: Turn from Auburn Avenue onto Mason Street. Drive straight into P3 garage and you enter The Heart & Vascular Institute on Ground Level C.

How do I park for The Joint & Spine Center?

We recommend that you park in P1 garage, P2 parking lot or valet parking in front of The Joint & Spine Center.

P1 Access: Turn from Auburn Avenue onto Mason Street. From the P1 parking garage, take the skywalk on Level 1 toward the hospital. Turn left at the end of the skywalk into The Joint & Spine Center.

P2 Access: Turn from Auburn Avenue onto Mason Street. From the P2 parking lost, cross Mason Street and enter The Joint & Spine Center main entrance on Ground Level C.

Education & Resources

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Learn more about what to expect from your hip or knee replacement surgery! Check out our Guide to Knee Replacement and our Guide to Hip Replacement to learn important information about your procedure, including:

• How to prepare before surgery
• What to expect on the day of your surgery
• What to expect while you're in the hospital
• Planning for your return to home
• What to expect once you return home. 

Guides

• Your Guide to Knee Replacement
• Your Guide to Hip Replacement