Kemptville District Hospital celebrates 15th anniversary of Total Joint Replacement program

KEMPTVILLE, ONTARIO, October 19, 2026 – Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) marked the 15^th anniversary of its Total Joint Replacement (TJR) program, which commenced on October 17, 2011.

The hospital’s Surgical Care Team celebrated with cake and coffee today (October 19, 2026). The TJR program began as an innovative partnership between KDH and The Ottawa Hospital (TOH) to reduce wait times for patients by utilizing Operating Room (OR) capacity at KDH. Since 2011, over 4,200 TJR surgeries have been performed at KDH.

At the time of the program’s launch, KDH was one of just a handful of small hospitals in North America performing this type of surgery. Since then, the TJR program at KDH has grown into what it is today – an example of surgical excellence achieved through innovation and collaboration.

“We’re proud to celebrate the 15^th anniversary of the TJR program,” said Frank Vassallo, KDH President and CEO. “I want to thank all the staff and physicians – from KDH and TOH – who have been instrumental in the success of this vital program. Stemming from the great success of our TJR program, and through our strong collaborative partnership with The Ottawa Hospital, we started a spinal surgery program and much-needed gynecology surgery program.”

“The Total Joint Replacement program has been a tremendous success in helping us provide surgical care to everyone in our region,” said Cameron Love, President and CEO of The Ottawa Hospital. “By allowing patients to receive the surgeries they need in more locations, programs like this help patients receive care closer to home, reduce wait times, and build strong partnerships between health-care providers, creating a seamless care experience regardless of where patients are located. We look forward to building on this program in the future.”

“Over the past 15 years, KDH’s Total Joint Replacement Program has demonstrated what a regional community hospital can accomplish when physicians, nurses, physiotherapists, and the entire perioperative team work together around a common goal,” said Dr. Colin Sentongo, KDH Chief of Staff. “The program has continued to evolve – from introducing total joint replacements in 2011 to transitioning selected patients to same-day discharge in 2020 – while maintaining a strong focus on safety, quality and the patient experience. Research involving our program has also demonstrated that appropriately selected patients can receive high-quality joint replacement care in a community hospital setting, with excellent outcomes and efficient use of hospital resources. I am incredibly proud of the teams who have built and sustained this program, and of KDH’s continuing contribution to joint replacement care across our region.”

“Working with Kemptville District Hospital has allowed us to ensure that more people in our region get the surgeries they need in a timely manner,” said Kate Duke, Executive Director of Surgical Care at The Ottawa Hospital. “With the recent expansion of this partnership into orthopedics and gynecology, we hope to extend this benefit to more people throughout our community. Partnerships like this help ensure that patients do not have to wait for the care they need.”

For more information about the TJR program, and other health care services at KDH, visit www.kdh.on.ca   

About Kemptville District Hospital

Kemptville District Hospital (KDH) is an integrated health services organization serving the health needs of North Grenville, the eastern regions of the United Counties of Leeds and Grenville, and South Ottawa in partnership with other healthcare and community organizations in our region. KDH is part of an approved Ontario Health Team – Ottawa West Four Rivers – comprised of many community services and primary care providers. KDH provides 24-hour emergency care, inpatient care, surgical programs including advanced orthopedic surgery, and outpatient clinics. KDH is committed to our mission of ‘Building Healthier Communities’ based on people-centered care and collaborative partnerships.

Media contact: 

Jenn Westendorp, Communications Officer

Kemptville District Hospital

613.258.6133 x 225

Email: jwestendorp@kdh.on.ca