New orthopedic surgeon at VMH; Providing consults,procedures and surgeries
Dr. Jay Strittholt joins VMH ... Veterans Memorial Hospital welcomes Dr. Jay Strittholt as a new Orthopedic Surgeon at the hospital beginning in early April. Dr. Strittholt is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon that practices all aspects of general orthopedics, including total joint replacement. He joins Dr. Val Lyons as an additional choice for orthopedic services close to home. Self-referrals are welcome when making appointments with Dr. Strittholt and can be made by calling Veterans Memorial Hospital at 563-568-3411. Submitted photo.
Veterans Memorial Hospital is announcing that Dr. Jay Strittholt will be a new Orthopedic Surgeon at the hospital beginning in early April. Dr. Strittholt is a Board Certified Orthopedic Surgeon that practices all aspects of general orthopedics, including total joint replacement. He joins Dr. Val Lyons as an additional choice for orthopedic services close to home.
Originally from a small town in Ohio, he has worked 20-plus years of his career in Iowa and has a special connection to this state. He feels at home in smaller towns, and enjoys the kinship of the people. This is one of the main reasons that he is very pleased to be practicing in Waukon now.
Dr. Strittholt understands that Orthopedists in smaller towns must be well versed in a multitude of Orthopedic procedures, as he wants to provide the highest quality of care to the people in the area, and avoid having to send any patients to “the big city” if he can help it. Known for his caring demeanor and his bedside manner, Dr. Strittholt has excellent patient reviews, earning high praise and ratings on all of the most well known doctor websites.
“I am excited to be at Veterans Memorial Hospital, and proud to be providing excellent Orthopedic care to the community,” states Dr. Strittholt. “In the beginning of my career, I worked in trauma centers, but the last 15 years I’ve been in smaller hospitals and prefer that. I can do everything in a smaller hospital I could do in the bigger ones, as long as a smaller hospital is the most appropriate for the patient health-wise if they are not too high of risk.”
Dr. Strittholt will be visiting Veterans Memorial Hospital every other week and will grow to one day a week in the near future. He will be performing general orthopedic surgeries at the hospital and also holding clinic days for patient consults and follow-ups.
“People don’t understand it is probably safer to do surgeries in a smaller hospital than larger, for a lower infection rate. Also if you are from the area, it is nicer to go to the local hospital where the nurse taking care of you knows you or someone in your family,” adds Dr. Strittholt. “Here you’re not a stranger.
Family can easily come visit, so it makes the whole experience easier.”
Skilled care is a popular option for patients to remain in the hospital following an orthopedic surgery for rehabilitation twice per day and Dr. Strittholt is a strong supporter of this level of care.
“Rehab is just as important as the surgery itself,” states Strittholt. “You can do the best surgery in the world, but if you don’t rehab it properly you may as well have not done it.”
Patients that stay at the hospital on skilled care receive rehabilitation twice per day and are discharged when they are ready to care for themselves at home. Meals are provided and nursing cares as needed, preparing them for discharge.
“Our surgery here in Waukon is equipped well and able to do a lot more than what I would have thought,” adds Strittholt. “We need the community to know there is a lot you can do right here! You have the option of staying closer to home… you don’t have to leave town unless you want to.”
A doctor’s order is not required to see Dr. Jay Strittholt. Self-referrals are welcome. To make an appointment for a consult with Dr. Strittholt, call the Veterans Memorial Hospital Surgical Coordinator at 563-568-3411.
