History of JRI

In the 1980’s while still at UCLA, Dr. Harlan Amstutz began to consider various factors that ultimately led to the formation of the Joint Replacement Institute. The success of both the liver and heart transplant programs across the country pointed to the efficiency and productivity of employing a team approach to delivering patient care wherein all aspects are directed to the specific condition to be evaluated and treated. Orthopaedic Hospital, under the leadership of Dr. James Luck and with the support of its Board of Directors, offered a stellar arrangement including funding for research. The first joint replacement surgery performed at Orthopaedic Hospital under the auspices of the JRI occurred on August 6, 1991, and the outpatient clinic and research labs opened their doors on September 23, 1991. The centralized character of all the various activities was seen as an excellent step forward toward maximizing clinical efficiency and research productivity. This has proven to be correct. The proximity of scientists and physicians, clinics and offices has been most rewarding and beneficial.

In the Summer of 2005, Orthopaedic Hospital ceased to provide inpatient care, and the surgeons from the Joint Replacement Institute performed surgeries at Good Samaritan Hospital for the transition period leading to the current association with St. Vincent Medical Center. The reorganization of the operating facilities took place in April of 2007. The move to the new expansive JRI facility at St. Vincent Medical Center is complete and the clinic opened its doors in January 2008.

The term “center of excellence” has been used extensively in recent years to describe healthcare institutions that are at the “cutting edge” of medicine and foremost in the delivery of exceptional patient care. There are few institutions more deserving of this designation than the Joint Replacement Institute and its current partner: St. Vincent Medical Center. During its sixteen years of existence, JRI staff have provided the best of clinical care; trained numerous fellows and surgeons; organized conferences; written for a multitude of journals, news outlets and books; have been featured on television and in audiovisual materials; and presented at scores of meetings. Its visibility is international as well as national and local. Its research is both basic and clinical. Its focus has been on the design of prostheses and the development of more wear-resistant materials with an emphasis on improving their durability by understanding the causation of implant failure.

Our goals include:  Premier Patient Care; Academic and Research Productivity; Education and Training; The desire to reach above and beyond; To constantly strive for improvement; To continually advance the science of orthopaedic surgery; To render excellent care to our patients. This is our combined  mission, and this is the story of the Joint Replacement Institute at St. Vincent Medical Center as it looks to the future.