Virtua JRI Resumes Non-Emergent Surgeries

After nearly 10 weeks, non-emergent surgeries are once again taking place at the Virtua Joint Replacement Institute (JRI) in Voorhees, Virtua Health said Monday morning.

Although the team remained in regular communication with its patients — particularly those whose surgeries were postponed — the surgeons were unable to perform standard knee-replacement and hip-replacement surgeries due to statewide orders in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I think people are starting to recognize that the term ‘elective surgery’ can be misleading. From a medical standpoint, the vast majority of them are absolutely necessary and time-sensitive,” Virtua JRI Medical Director Dr. Scott Schoifet said. “Our patient population typically has chronic, sustained pain that will not improve without medical or surgical intervention. Everyone was in agreement that we needed to reserve resources for a possible surge of COVID-19 patients, but all the while our roster of patients in need of surgery continued to grow.”

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Now that his practice has resumed operations, Schoifet and his colleagues underscore the priority placed on safety.

Although the orthopedic surgical suite shares the same campus as Virtua Voorhees Hospital, Schoifet emphasizes that Virtua JRI has its own entrance, rooms, sterile processing department, staff, and air filtration system.

All patients are tested for the coronavirus prior to surgery and are instructed to self-quarantine between testing and the surgery. Added safety measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic include limiting visitors, universal masking, and enhanced cleaning and disinfecting processes. Read more here.

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