Center for Education & Research on Therapeutics (CERT): HSS Total Joint Replacement Registries

The CERT (Centers for Education & Research on Therapeutics) program is part of a national initiative, funded by the federal Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, to optimize the safety and effectiveness of medical care in the United States. There are currently over 200 completed and ongoing studies sponsored by the CERT program aimed at improving the health of all Americans.

Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is partnering with the Weill Cornell Medical College (WCMC) CERT program to study outcomes in patients who have their knee, hip or shoulder replaced. HSS was selected because of our clinical and academic excellence, and because we are internationally recognized as a world leader in joint replacement surgery. HSS performs over 7000 hip, knee and shoulder replacements a year, more than any other single hospital in the United States. The WCMC-HSS CERT registry focuses exclusively on total joint replacements, and is the most comprehensive registry of its kind in the country.

We are not only interested in the physical results of your operation, but also how you feel your joint replacement is functioning and how satisfied you are with your new joint.

The HSS/CERT Joint Replacement Registry has over 17,000 patients enrolled. After your surgery, we will send you questionnaires in the mail at 6 months, 2 years, and every few years thereafter to assess how you are feeling and how well your joint replacement is functioning. You will be able to submit this information online or by mailing back the questionnaires.

About Total Joint Replacements

Total joint replacements are some of the most successful medical devices developed over the last fifty years. They enable millions of people to remain ambulatory and pain free, with minimal risk. Each year, over 230,000 total hip replacements, 580,000 total knee replacements, and 25,000 shoulder replacements are performed in the United States. These numbers have increased dramatically during the recent years and are likely to increase further as the baby boomers enter retirement age.

Future Registry Initiatives

Participants in the HSS/CERT Total Joint Replacement Registries will receive a yearly newsletter, which will include updates on the registry, as well as the results of studies done using information volunteered by HSS patients.

How to Enroll in the Registry

A research coordinator will be on hand at your pre-operative education session, when you have your pre-operative blood draw, or in the pre-operative holding area to explain how to enroll. You will also receive an informational letter about the registry in the mail. Participation is voluntary and if you choose not to participate in the HSS/CERT Total Joint Replacement Registry, it will in no way affect the care you receive at HSS.

We appreciate your involvement!