The Center for Joint Health

Replacement, Recovery, Rejuvenation – Right Here at Home

The Center for Joint Health at SOCH provides comprehensive integrated services for patients who need hip or knee replacement surgery. 

Joint replacement is a surgical procedure used to remove and replace an arthritic or damaged joint with an artificial joint called a prosthesis.  This surgery is one of the most effective treatment options for chronic and debilitating knee or hip pain that has not responded to other therapies.

At the Center for Joint Health at SOCH, our expert team is dedicated to helping you through every facet of your surgical experience.   Our goal is to provide the clinical skill, education and support you need to successfully reduce your joint pain, restore function and improve your quality of life.

Orthopedic Procedures at the Center for Joint Health Include:

• Total Knee Replacement
• Partial Knee Replacement
• Gender-Specific Knee Replacment
• Total Hip Replacement
• Partial Hip Replacement
• Hip Resurfacing
• Revision of Knee and Hip

Our Team of Expert Clinicians Include:

• Board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons, including:
  

John A. Cristini, MD is board-certified in orthopaedics.  He is a graduate of Hahnemann Medical College in Philadelphia and completed a general internship and a residency in Orthopaedics at Letterman General Hospital and Shriners Hospital for Crippled Children in San Francisco.  He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor at Hahnemann University School of Medicine.  He has also served in the United States Army as Chief of Orthopaedic Surgery at Walson Army Hospital in Fort Dix, NJ.  He also serves as the school physician for Egg Harbor Township High School.

Samuel Epstein, DO earned his medical degree at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine. He completed his internship and orthopedic residency at Detroit Osteopathic Hospital. Dr. Epstein has done additional training at the University of Pennsylvania in sports medicine and spine surgery and is board certified in orthopedic surgery. Dr. Epstein is a three time former chairman of the Department of Surgery at Southern Ocean County Hospital, and is a member of the American Osteopathic Association. He is also a member of the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, and he is certified in total joint replacement by the Adult Reconstructive & Arthritis Surgery Section.

W. Francis Kennard, MD attended college in Washington, DC, graduating Phi Beta Kappa from Howard University in 1969. Medical School training was carried out in Philadelphia at the University of Pennsylvania from 1969 to 1973. He served two years of general surgery residency from 1973 to 1975 at Beth Israel Hospital, Boston, and Massachusetts. From 1975 to 1978, Dr. Kennard underwent training at the Hospital for Special Surgery, in New York City; which is the orthopaedic teaching hospital of the Cornell University Medical Center. Dr. Kennard is board certified in orthopaedic surgery by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery. He is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery. In addition he is a member of the New Jersey Orthopaedic Society, the American Medical Association, the New Jersey Medical Society and Ocean County Medical Society.

Raymond Weiand, DO, earned his undergraduate degree in Biology from Pennsylvania State University and his medical degree from the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey School of Osteopathic Medicine.  He completed an internship and residency in Orthopedic Surgery at Kennedy Memorial Hospital/University Medical Center.  He also completed special residency rotations in Pediatric Orthopedics and Pediatric Sports Orhtopedics at the Alfred I. DuPont Institute in Wilmington, Delaware; in Trauma Orthopedics at Cooper Hospital, South Jersey Trauma Center in Camden, NJ and in Sports Orthopedics at Graduate Hospital in Philadelphia.  He also received fellowship training in Orthopedic Traumatology at Cooper Hospital University Medical Center.  He is board-certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Orthopedic Surgery.  He served as President of the Atlantic County Medical Society, and is member of the American Osteopathic Association, the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, and the New Jersey Medical Society.

Jason Wong, DO earned his undergraduate degree in Biology Sciences from the University of Southern California and a graduate degree in Biomedical Engineering from Drexel University in Philadelphia. He earned his medical degree from the University of Osteopathic Medicine and Health Sciences: College of Osteopathic Medicine and Surgery in Iowa.  He completed a rotating internship and a residency at the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey: School of Osteopathic Medicine and Kennedy Memorial Hospital in Stratford, NJ.  He received fellowship training in Sports Medicine and Arthroscopy from Temple University Hospital in Philadelphia. He is a member of the American Osteopathic Association, the American Osteopathic Academy of Orthopedics, the American Medical Association and the New Jersey Association of Osteopathic Physicians and Surgeons.  He has served on numerous committees at Southern Ocean County Hospital, including the Operating Room Committee, Cancer Care Committee, Surgical Performance Improvement Committee, Pain Management Committee, Infection Control Committee, and Medical Executive Committee.  He is board-certified by the National Board of Osteopathic Medicine.

• Board-certified physicians specializing in rehabilitation medicine (physiatrists)
• Nurses with specialized training in orthopedics and rehabilitation medicine
• Certified occupational and physical therapists
• Case managers to help you plan for your discharge

Our Integrated Services Include:

• Pre-surgery education classes designed to provide you with comprehensive information about your procedure and to answer any questions you may have
• Sophisticated diagnostic imaging services, including MRI, X-Ray, and CT Scan
• A dedicated, fully renovated inpatient orthopedics unit, featuring private rooms and a designated therapy gym. 
• Comprehensive pain management services
• Comprehensive rehabilitation services, including:
  • Acute rehabilitation therapy
    
  • The Transitional Care Unit at SOCH
    
  • Outpatient physical therapy with convenient locations in southern Ocean County

Your Joint Replacement Surgery
Before Your Surgery: Once your orthopedic surgeon has determined that you are a candidate for joint replacement surgery, your surgery date will be scheduled, as well as pre-admission testing

During pre-admission testing, you will also have the opportunity to meet with the anesthesiologist, who will respond to any questions you may have about your pain management during and following surgery.

Before your procedure, you will also benefit from the chance to attend a specially designed education program for patients about to undergo joint replacement surgery. 

Your Hospital Stay: Following your surgery, you will be admitted to our newly renovated orthopedic inpatient unit.  The beautiful unit includes private rooms with furniture and restroom facilities designed to accommodate the specific needs of those recovering from joint replacement surgery.

The orthopedic inpatient unit also features a  fitness facility so that your rehabilitation can begin immediately.

Our comprehensive pain management program offers a number of pain control options designed to minimize any pain you may experience following your surgery.

Following Your Hospital Stay
While you are in the hospital recovering from your surgery, our case management team will work with you to ensure that you have the appropriate level of care available to you when you are discharged from the hospital.

Your physician may determine that you need additional rehabilitation before you return home.  The Transitional Care Unit at SOCH provides short-term physical and occupational therapy in a beautifully appointed environment.