American Joint Replacement Registry
Southeast Georgia Health System is a member of the American Joint Replacement
Registry (AJRR), an independent, not-for-profit database designed to store
comprehensive data about joint replacement procedures.
More than a million
hip and
knee replacements are performed each year in the U.S., and that number is expected to increase
as more and more men and women remain active as they get older. Being
a member of the AJRR helps to ensure that we continue providing patients
with the best care possible. Additionally, we were the first Health System
in the state of Georgia to join the registry. By participating with other
hospitals in sharing information about artificial joint performance and
physician and patient experiences, we help joint replacement procedures
become safer nationwide.
According to national data, the vast majority of replacement surgeries
are successful, offering patients years of trouble-free use and helping
patients resume their regular activities of daily living. Approximately
90% of joint replacements last 20 years or more.
The AJRR serves as a central clearinghouse for information about joint
replacements performed at Southeast Georgia Health System and other member
hospitals and medical centers throughout the country that participate
in the registry. The AJRR aims to carefully monitor the artificial joint
throughout a recipient’s lifetime in a database containing information
about the patient, the surgeon who performed the procedure and the hospital
or medical center where the procedure took place. The data collected helps
doctors more quickly identify joints that are performing poorly, and helps
them match patients, procedures and devices to ensure that every patient
has the best experience possible.
By offering a single source of data, doctors and other health care professionals
who use the registry can easily access data from medical centers around
the country and use that information to help them make more informed recommendations
to their patients. Registry information about patient outcomes also helps
artificial joint manufacturers improve their products and identify potentially
faulty products, and helps reduce health care costs associated with replacement
procedures and follow-up care. All data collected by the AJRR remains
confidential to protect patient privacy.