Saint Thomas Health Provides Free Orthopedic Surgeries in Partnership with Operation Walk USA

This month orthopedic surgeons at Saint Thomas Health partnered with Operation Walk to provide free hip and knee replacement surgeries to four patients. Saint Thomas Health is part of Ascension, the nation’s largest Catholic and nonprofit health system.

Operation Walk USA is an independent medical humanitarian organization that provides free hip or knee replacement surgeries in partnership with health systems across the United States, benefiting U.S. citizens and permanent residents who do not qualify for government assistance programs and cannot provide surgery on their own.

This year marks the second consecutive year for the partnership between Saint Thomas Health and Operation Walk USA, with seven surgeries being completed through the partnership in 2016 for a total of 11 patients served. Saint Thomas Midtown and West Hospitals were the only hospitals in Tennessee to participate in the program this year.

“I am extremely appreciative to Saint Thomas Health for their continued support of Operation Walk USA and the Faith Family Medical Clinic,” said Dr. William Kurtz, M.D., orthopedic surgeon at Saint Thomas Health. “For the second year in a row, we have all come together to provide Nashville’s least fortunate the ability to walk pain-free.”

“The partnership with Operation Walk USA is a collaborative effort, and we so appreciate the support of our local volunteers, other orthopaedic surgeons and their staff, and the donors and supporters for their generous time and expertise,” said John Michael Eargle, Vice President of Orthopedics at Saint Thomas Health. “This partnership has given us another avenue to live the Saint Thomas mission by providing healthcare to those most vulnerable.”

The four replacement surgeries this month were completed by Tennessee Orthopedic Alliance (TOA) surgeons Dr. William Kurtz, Dr. Philip Karpos, and Dr. Stuart Smith. Saint Thomas Health provided personnel, medical supplies and hospital services at no cost to the patients.

Although more than 1 million hip and knee replacements are performed in the United States each year, thousands of uninsured or men and women continue to live with severe arthritic pain and immobility because they have no access to these highly effective procedures.

Operation Walk USA was formed in 2010 with the commitment to helping those in need by restoring their mobility, self-dignity and productivity, thus helping them return to work and their social activities. The organization’s efforts are supported by professionals across the wide spectrum of health care—from orthopedic surgeons who donate their skills and time and hospital administrators who provide beds, operating room facilities, medications, and recovery support, to other professional medical specialists (anesthesiologists, nurses, scrub technicians, physical therapists).

Operation Walk USA takes place each year in December. To learn more, visit http:/www.operationwalk.org/.