Over the past four years, Lisa Kolodziejski has gone above and beyond to transform total joint replacement and geriatric fracture programs at UPMC St. Margaret through innovation and patient-centeredness. She has significantly impacted patient care by reducing harm and improving outcomes.
She is not just the patient’s navigator on their total joint replacement journey—she is their coach, quarterback, and cheerleader. She conducts a total joint class, first meeting all patients prior to their surgery. Initially, these classes were held only during the day and in person. To better meet patients’ needs, she increased participation by offering evening and online classes, allowing more patients to participate despite daytime responsibilities or long distances from the hospital. Participation increased significantly with these additional options.
Kolodziejski expanded the class content by including examples of high-protein items that promote wound healing. A dietician now participates in the class, explaining the importance of increased protein consumption pre- and post-surgery. The class also features a physical therapist and an occupational therapist who demonstrate preoperative and postoperative exercises and the use of equipment and aids to assist in recovery. Patients and caregivers consistently provide positive feedback on the importance of the class to their recovery; the class helps reduce patient harm by preventing surgical site infections, venous thromboembolism, and mechanical failure of the joint, and by decreasing length of stay and readmissions.
Kolodziejski also visits overnight patients the day after surgery, encouraging them and their caregivers towards discharge and reinforcing the education provided during the class. All patients continue to receive coaching after discharge through follow-up phone calls to address any concerns or clarify instructions. She drives the success of the total joint program through her collaboration with surgeons, pharmacy, rehab services, nutritional services, nursing, and surgical teams.
Her dedication extends to the geriatric fracture program, focusing on improving patient care by consistently meeting door-to-operating-room times under 24 hours and developing patient care pathways to improve outcomes by reducing length of stay and readmissions. Recently, there has been an increase in patients being discharged home. She also volunteers at health fairs, where she provided 95 bone density screenings and educating 551 community members throughout 2024.
