Patient Testimonials

I found all aspects of my hip replacement, treatment and care to be a great experience. Accommodations, food, and above all, the people who worked on and with me were terrific.

When deciding the best course of action for my knee replacement surgery, I chose the TCO EXCEL Program for several reasons.

It was very important to me that I minimize the risk of complications from such an invasive surgery. Dr. Anseth explained to me that there was a lower percentage of risk of infection by having my surgery at the Twin Cities Orthopedics Surgery Center rather than at a traditional hospital. In addition, I would not need to spend the first day or two in the hospital prior to going to an extended care facility. The EXCEL Program allowed me to be transported directly from the surgery center to the extended care facility. This enabled me to begin physical therapy literally immediately and shortened my overall length of stay.

While in the extended care facility, I received excellent care! I was monitored twenty-four hours a day. My pain level was monitored closely, taken seriously, and addressed immediately. Everyone I dealt with was kind, respectful, and understanding. A real class act!

To my husband and I, the best part came after I returned home. Everything (and I mean EVERYTHING), was included into one bill! This saved us so much time consuming paperwork and frustration. This was extremely convenient.

I would definitely recommend the EXCEL program!

The surgical team was phenomenal and everyone left me feeling confident and well cared for. I especially appreciated that my best friend was able to be with me up until it was time to roll into the operating room. It was such a big help in reducing that intensely anxious pre-operating feeling!

After surgery I was able to recover at the EXCEL center instead of the hospital. I absolutely recommend that to anyone who is able to qualify. I couldn’t get over the superb care and quiet, peaceful environment. Thank you Justina and company! You are all fantastic!

And it meant a lot to me that Dr. O’Neill came to see me that eve (surgery day) and walked with me a bit. It is such a great feeling that my doctor is as excited about these results as his patients are. And yes, I was up walking with my walker in just hours after my surgery. I went from walker to a cane within a few days, and within a week and a half, I no longer needed the cane. By one month post-op I was walking 3-4 miles each day and back to work. Throughout the rest of the summer and fall I averaged 35-40 miles a week walking with no pain.

Not exaggerating even a little, Dr. O’Neill and his great staff have given me back the ability to enjoy my family, friends and work. There is no way to express what it means to me to be able to move, sleep and have more energy for anything I want to do without constant exhausting pain. And such a gift to have my life back so swiftly with no need for extensive physical therapy, no extensive scarring from muscles being cut and so much less pain than I imagine a traditional approach would have generated.

Heartfelt thanks to all of you! You are the best!

I wanted to extend my sincere appreciation for the care and treatment for my total knee arthroplasty I received from Dr. O’Neill and his team. I couldn’t be happier with the results!
I am so glad that you recommended the EXCEL Program. Everything about that program was positive, and I can’t help but attribute my positive recovery to Dr. O’Neill‘s skill and that program. Coming to the end of week seven, my range of motion is normal—better than expected. I’m at least 0 to 140°, and being an over-achiever, I’m working towards -2 to 145°. The swelling in my knee hasn’t been this mild for many years. I’m doing exercises I had given up, like squats and lunges, and back on the treadmill. I can’t wait to get outside and back into my fitness walking, golf and gardening!

After more than five years of supportive, conservative knee pain management, my strength and stability had collapsed. It became apparent by continued pain, an x-ray and MRI, that it was my time for a total knee replacement. Dr. Heikes had been helping me manage my pain for years and helped as I moved into needing a new knee. Having the EXCEL Program as an option with TCO made my decision to do it now, that much easier.

Focused, multidisciplinary post-operative care in a non-hospital environment was optimal for me and my family. With my insurances’ approval, I took part in the TCO EXCEL Program having a left total knee replacement in June of 2015. I received top notch care and was walking down the hall that afternoon after an intense physical and occupational therapy session. With my own training at home, I am not looking back! Many adventures await!

My hip replacement experience was excellent and life changing. Prior to surgery I had significant pain that limited my mobility and restricted me from the activities I enjoy as well as limited my ability to run my business. The pain initiated in my hip, but my back and right knee were also in pain. It was hard for me to believe that at just 61 years arthritis was to a point that I needed replacement. I also didn’t believe that replacing my hip would resolve my back and knee pain, but it did. I first consulted my general practitioner and on advice of a doctor within my insurance coverage, I had a steroid injection as a first step. With no improvement, I researched options for hip replacement, information on procedures and chose Dr. Brian O’Neill at TCO.

My experience was exceptional from the beginning through my final re-check. From a basic patient perspective, I had no long waits, had my questions answered and felt that Dr. Brian O’Neill listened to my concerns. The surgery was fast, the experience at the Interlude Center was fantastic, and best of all I am completely out of pain and back to a very active, pain free life.

Details that worked well for me:

– I appreciate that surgery was scheduled early in the morning. I had minimal general anesthetic issues.
– The bundled billing and ability to pre-pay was a very convenient option. It is also helpful as a patient to have one contact person should there have been a question on the billing.
– The education meeting with the TCO/Excel nurse Marni was very helpful to know what to expect.
– The printed booklet was helpful as it is easy to forget details.
– Recovering in the Interlude Center through the Excel program was a perfect after surgery experience. Private room, private nurses, physical therapy and a follow-up with an internist gave me access to care in one package and eliminated the chaos that can come with a hospital experience.
– The nurses that cared for me were wonderful and well suited to that kind of care.
– The room at the Interlude Center was great-it is nice to be surrounded by comfort while being focused on recovery.

I have only 2 recommendations based on my experience. It would be helpful to receive a chart or spreadsheet that scheduled the pain medications to be taken at home. I was familiar with the drugs and the nurses educated me, but for some patients this could be confusing and easy to forget what to take and when. There was a written list of medications prescribed, but not a specific schedule outlining how and when to take the meds.

The other recommendation is a printed handout from the therapist with pictures of the Phase 1 and Phase 2 exercises. Even though I could have used my laptop to access the videos, I created hard copies of exercises and included a chart of completion to make it easier to get it done.

I rate my experience A++. I would be giving my testimony in person but I am celebrating my 39^th wedding anniversary with my husband in Florida. We walk 4 miles on the beach each morning and that was my goal when scheduling the surgery in early August. Life is good, thank you Twin Cities Orthopedic team!

I had a minimally invasive right anterior hip replacement on 10/16/2015 by Dr. O’Neill. It is truly a miracle for which I am very grateful. For the first time in over 18 months, I am walking without pain. I have a range of motion that amazes me.

I had polio as a 9 year old and had 3 surgeries on both legs and feet and now have worn bilateral leg braces for 16 years because I have post-polio syndrome. I was fearful of more surgery and I think even the EXCEL staff was leery of my disabilities but I can safely say that I have made it through the surgery in excellent shape. The first time I stood up in the recovery room I knew the pain was gone!

I highly recommend this surgery to anyone who needs a new hip! I also highly recommend Dr. O’Neill and all the staff at TCO including Eileen, Alyssa & Jessie. The EXCEL nurses and PTs were also terrific. All of my appointments were timely and the front desk staff are wonderful. Dr. O’Neill is very kind and thorough and humorous and I am so thankful for him. I am a RN and have been for 40 years and we nurses are very discerning and sometimes we aren’t the best patients, but this was a truly remarkable experience for me and my husband.

From the beginning I knew I was in good hands with Dr. Teynor and the Excel surgery and recovery team. Dr. Teynor gave me confidence by even including me in the Excel program.

I was prepared in Justina’s class for anything that I might encounter, and throughout the process, she and her “manual” provided me with every answer. Dr. Teynor’s surgery was stellar, very successful (even on the very work state of my knee plagued by a 40+ year old injury).

The staff at York Gardens held me up through the difficult days following surgery, with timely and very professional care, service, and advice. The Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy staff challenged me appropriately and Justina gave me calm and hope.

My experience with TCO Physical Therapy was outstanding. My needs were read clearly by Angie and Jen – they kept me accountable, even when I didn’t feel “accelerated”, with patience, humor, and direct communication. I was vulnerable and they knew how to encourage and promote my growth through my resistance. Dr. Troy was ever encouraging and gave clear analysis and helpful advice during my aftercare appointments. Because of this phenomenal staff, I knew what was expected and I was inspired to keep striving, even though some of the recovery was difficult.

I am grateful to Dr. Teynor, Dr. Troy, Justina, Angie, Jen, the nurses on staff at York Gardens, the Physical Therapy on staff at York – to everyone. Excel is an incredible program and I would highly recommend it to anyone, without reservation. Thank you for believing in me, helping me heal and recover and bringing me to this wonderful state of stability.

Below is a letter from James, who traveled from Canada to have a hip replacement with Dr. Owen O’Neill through the EXCEL Program at Twin Cities Orthopedics.

It’s funny how life works; how small the world seems to be, and how sometimes things just happen to go just right. This is where my story begins. After several months of enduring hip pain, it became apparent that it was time for a total hip replacement (THR). One of the keys for me, and what I think was important at my age (72), was the length of recovery after the surgery. I am an avid golfer both in Toronto, Ontario, Canada and in Marco Island, Florida; an outdoor cottage guy during the Canadian summers; and a guy that you could say just can’t sit still for five minutes. I was introduced to Dr. Owen O’Neill and Twin Cities Orthopedics from a close friend here in Toronto. After a short conversation with Dr. O’Neill and a brief discussion over an X-ray I had sent him, I knew this was the perfect fit for me. The THR being performed at Excel would have me back to my life of mobility in a third of the time of other THR procedures up here in Toronto. From the moment I arrived in Minneapolis, it was evident that the Excel team provides patients with coordinated care as advertised. I experienced outstanding care from all administration, all the dedicated nurses, and especially from Dr. Owen O’Neill himself. All questions about the surgery – and more importantly for me, about my recovery – were answered. After the surgery, the first thing I uttered to my son and daughter was, “What time is my tee time?” I just felt great – recovering for a few days in the private orthopedic suite getting nothing but the best care from all the excellent nurses on staff. I can’t thank them enough for making me feel so comfortable after the surgery. After a few more days recovering in a hotel suite provided by Excel and another examination/X-ray with Dr. O’Neill, I was on my way back home to Toronto. I had my surgery on a Monday morning and I was on a plane back to Toronto on Friday afternoon, and that is all due to the expertise of Dr. O’Neill and his team. Now, a few weeks after the surgery, family and friends can’t believe how quickly I’m recovering after having had a total hip replacement. Needless to say, I’m looking forward to my follow-up X-ray in about three weeks and a discussion via phone with Dr. O’Neill to discuss when I can make it back to the first tee to shave a few strokes off the scorecard. Most sincerely, James M.- Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The treatment I received from Dr. O’Neill, the EXCEL team and TCO was fantastic! The continuity of care was complete- each doctor, nurse, therapist, PA, administrative assistant, care coordinator- you name it- everyone coordinated my care and progress in a way that is remarkable for most surgical procedures. I’m less than four months out from a full knee replacement, and able to do most things already, including daily swims half-way across the lake, one of my goals for summer here at the cabin. The only thing slowing me down now is the other knee- which also has arthritis and that I’ll be replacing later this year. Based on my experience with the first knee, I should be on cross country skis by February! I felt totally confident with Dr. O’Neill- he patiently answered ALL my questions before and after surgery- he took the time I needed to be comfortable about what would happen. Thank you to the entire team!

*Linda was a participant in TCO’s EXCEL program.