League City residents needing hip or knee replacement surgery have a nationally accredited program close to home.

The University of Texas Medical Branch (UTMB Health) League City Campus earned accreditation as a Total Joint Replacement Center of Excellence from The Joint Commission, the health system announced Monday, Sept. 14. The accreditation followed an on-site survey conducted July 24.

The Joint Commission is an independent organization that evaluates hospitals nationwide. To earn its joint replacement certification, hospitals must demonstrate standardized patient education before surgery, outcomes tracking, and continuity of care from pre-operative preparation through one-year follow-up.

"Joint replacement care involves much more than the procedure itself," said Gulshan Sharma, senior vice president and chief medical and clinical innovation officer for UTMB Health. "It requires coordination across the entire care team, from preparing patients for surgery through recovery and rehabilitation."

The League City orthopedic team showed surveyors its approach across the full patient journey, including safety protocols, clinical outcomes data, patient education and continuous improvement practices, according to the UTMB announcement. The accreditation provides independent validation of the quality and coordination of care at the campus.

For residents, the designation means access to a certified joint replacement program without a drive to the Texas Medical Center. UTMB Health said the recognition supports its efforts to expand specialty care in League City and surrounding Bay Area communities as the region grows.

Joshua Gary, chair of UTMB's Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and Rehabilitation, said the process extends well beyond the operating room. "Our orthopedic team works closely with the many other professionals involved in patient care to help patients move through that process safely and get back to the activities that matter most to them," Gary said.

Sydney Caperton, manager of UTMB's bariatrics and orthopedics service lines, said the designation reflects the work of physicians, nurses, rehabilitation specialists and other team members who support patients throughout the replacement process.

The certification covers every stage of care, from preoperative planning through hospitalization, rehabilitation and recovery.