At Scottish Rite Hospital, our experts are dedicated to caring for the whole child – mind, body and spirit. The hospital includes six Centers for Excellence that each cultivate the mission of patient care, research and education. Within those centers lies integrated services which allow our specialists to provide world-renowned care to every patient. 

The hospital’s psychology department is an essential component to the overall success of our patients before, during and after treatment. As integrated members of the hospital’s health care team, our licensed psychologists work closely with our orthopedic staff to promote a healthy lifestyle for the child through clinical care, education and ongoing research. 

Recently, an article from the hospital was published in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics titled, “Perioperative Interdisciplinary Intervention Contributes to Improved Outcomes of Adolescents Treated with Hip Preservation Surgery.” It is a collaborative project including pediatric psychologists, researchers and orthopedic surgeons. This study evaluated adolescent candidates for hip preservation surgery and the impact of a perioperative interdisciplinary care on pre-operative and post-operative outcomes. Patients who undergo hip preservation surgery typically present with chronic pain lasting longer than six months, which has the potential to develop negative psychological effects on the adolescent. 

The team evaluated a total of 67 patients before and after undergoing hip preservation surgery. Our psychologists worked closely with this group of patients before surgery to provide education, counseling and self-reported outcomes. In comparison to patients who did not receive psychological intervention prior to having surgery, those who did recorded:

• Higher self-esteem and self-reliance 
• Less anxiety and depression
• Decrease in school problems and social stress

In conclusion, the project revealed that the pre-operative education and counseling for patients undergoing hip preservation surgery improved their overall physical and psychological function after surgery. Pediatric psychologist Heather Richard, Psy.D. is excited about the results of this research and what it means for the future of care. “This collaborative study shows the true impact education and counseling can have on a patient undergoing surgery,” says Richard. “Our psychology team is proud to be a part of an institution that understands the importance of this service and how it can positively influence the patient. We look forward to continuing our research to improve our care of the whole child.” 

Read more about the published article.