WARSAW — The KCH Orthopedic Center is open and organizers and staff celebrated last evening, Thursday, Dec. 3, with an open house and tours of the facility.

The center, located on the third floor, encompasses a variety of areas. The idea has been in the planning since March, 2014, when a team of 12 surgeons, nurses and other personnel from KCH met for the first time to discuss the needs of their patients who were experiencing joint problems.

From then on, the team met about once a month. Nurse Champion Krista Harding orchestrated much of the project, along with Physician Champion Dr. Leamon Williams and a team consisting of Aaron Turner, DPT; Jay de los Reyes, KCH COO; Kirk Ray, KCH CEO; Lora Beeson, director of surgery; Kim Finch, KCH CNO; Dr. Dean Jansen, orthopedic surgeon and Matt Hauck, DPT.

The program takes a multidisciplinary approach to ensure joint patients are give the best quality care. Patients come to the therapy room twice a day, where they receive one-on-one care. In many cases, the length of hospital stays have been reduced due to the care received.

“We strive to have services people will drive hundreds of miles for,” KCH CEO Kirk Ray said.

During Thursday’s open house, members of the community had the chance to meet the staff, physicians, nurses and others and to tour the center. Further information about the KCH Orthopedic Center is available here.