Amanda Stoehr Drumm, assistant director of marketing & public affairs
FOR RELEASE: Immediately, August 14, 2009
DiSepio Institute for Rural Health and Wellness Seeking Participants for Research Study
The DiSepio Institute for Rural Health and Wellness and the Saint Francis University department of physical therapy are pleased to announce a collaborative research study for the local community. The study, entitled “Functional Outcomes of Patients Following Total Joint Replacement in Rural Settings at Least One Year Postoperative,” will assess the functional abilities of patients who have undergone a total hip or total knee arthroplasty. The study will also provide insight into the specific challenges faced by patients in rural areas and the obstacles they encounter on the road to recovery.
The data collected in the study will take a look at demographics. It will also evaluate recovery factors, such as: distance to surgeon’s office, distance to rehabilitation center, insurance coverage information, pre and post operative treatment, past medical/surgical history, and performance on various functional outcome measures.
The research data will be taken from subjects in the Altoona, State College, and Johnstown urban areas as well as rural areas in surrounding counties. The study will reveal the specific obstacles that patients living in rural areas face before and after reconstructive surgery. When obstacles and challenges are identified, the DiSepio Institute for Rural Health and Wellness will be able to use the information to develop community outreach programs and educate other medical providers in the region.
For more information or to register for the study, contact the DiSepio Institute for Rural Health and Wellness at 814-472-3936 or email HWI@francis.edu.
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