November 26, 2025Northern Health has commenced an exciting new initiative, the Joint Replacement Digital Care Pathway (DCP), designed to support people preparing for hip and knee replacement surgery.
Developed through the MyHealth@Northern app and funded through the Transport and Accident Commission’s Value-Based Healthcare Program, the pathway brings together trusted education, recovery information, and guidance in one accessible digital space.
The project is being co-designed with patients who have lived experience of joint replacement surgery, alongside clinicians, nurses, physiotherapists, and the CLEO team. This collaborative approach ensures the content reflects the questions, concerns, and priorities that matter most to patients preparing for and recovering after surgery.
“We want patients to feel informed, confident, and supported throughout their journey,” said Professor Adam Semciw, Professor of Allied Health at La Trobe University and Northern Health. “By working directly with patients and staff, we’re creating something grounded in real experiences, not assumptions.”
The DCP will build on the foundation of Northern Health’s Musculoskeletal Wellness Program. “Together these initiatives will improve patient journey from GP referral, offering gold-standard non-operative care for all patients with hip and knee OA, and progressing through to hospital stay and discharge, for those who eventually do require hip and knee replacement,” said Dr Juliette Gentle, Orthopaedic Head of Unit, Northern Health.
Prehabilitation is known to improve recovery and help patients set realistic expectations, yet many people face barriers such as travel, time or accessibility. By delivering prehabilitation education at home, the pathway aims to make preparation more convenient and easier to engage with. The DCP provides guidance on exercise, nutrition, pain management, and what to expect during hospital stay and recovery, with videos and practical tips to support patients before and after surgery.
The pathway is being developed and evaluated through a research study led by Northern Health and La Trobe University. Over the coming months, the team will pilot the pathway with patients undergoing joint replacement to assess feasibility, acceptability, and impact on outcomes.
Rather than replacing existing education services, the DCP aims to give patients the option to access trusted information at home. By analysing who engages with the pathway, how it is used, and what impact it has, the research team hopes to identify which groups benefit most and how it can best complement standard care.
“This is about testing what works,” said Professor Semciw. “Our goal is to ensure the pathway genuinely supports patients and fits smoothly into standard care.”
