DC 9 Surgery Programs
Welcome District Council 9 members. DC 9, the Mount Sinai Health System, and MagnaCare are partnering to offer top-quality surgery programs that address common medical conditions. Our services are available for you and your family.
Currently, we offer two programs at no cost to District Council 9 members and their families, covered by MagnaCare through the Painting Industry Insurance Fund: joint replacement surgery and weight loss surgery. To inquire on how to get started, contact MagnaCare Member Services at 800-352-6465.
Joint Replacement Surgery
If you are experiencing hip or knee pain and disability, you may be a candidate for joint replacement surgery. We know that hip and knee surgery can be stressful for patients and families. Our Mount Sinai team of doctors, nurses, therapists, and caregivers will work to minimize pain, shorten recovery time, and achieve the best possible long-term outcome.
Program benefits include:
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Access to our best orthopedic surgeons
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No co-pays, co-insurance, or deductible for your surgery
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Personal care guide to help you from start to finish
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Free transportation to and from the hospital on your surgery day
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Free grocery delivery to your home to make your recovery easier
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A guarantee that you will not receive a surprise bill
Your Personal Care Team
A dedicated Mount Sinai care guide will support you throughout the presurgical, surgical, and recovery periods. Your care guide will meet with you at various points throughout your journey. The guide can answer questions, provide guidance, and support recovery. Your care guide will continue to be available to you by phone or email for at least 30 days after surgery.
Your Patient Journey
Prior to surgery, you will meet with your orthopedic surgeon to discuss the procedure and have a preoperative physical exam. We will perform tests to make sure you are strong enough to tolerate surgery. These will include an electrocardiogram, X-rays, and several blood tests.
Joint Class
Approximately two weeks prior to surgery, we invite all patients to participate in a patient education program called Joint School. In this session, you will:
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Learn more about your surgery, pain management, and recovery
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Meet with care team members and ask questions
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Undergo any necessary presurgical screening
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Receive materials about surgery and instructions on preparing your home for recovery
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Discuss your rehabilitation, home care, and equipment needs during your recovery at home
Friends and Family
We strongly encourage you to bring a friend or family member with you to Joint School. Be sure to bring that person’s phone number with you to the hospital on the day of surgery. If your family has specific questions about the procedure, it is a good idea to write them down and bring them to the appointment with your orthopedic surgeon prior to your surgery.
Please arrange for a friend or family member to be available to assist you after you return home. If you think you might need more help than friends and family can provide, please contact a MagnaCare Member Services representative at 800-352-6465 for assistance.
Your Hospital Stay
On the day of surgery, we can offer you a free ride to the hospital from the car service Lyft*. When you arrive at the hospital, you will report to the registration desk. Joint replacement surgery usually takes several hours. You will receive either regional or general anesthesia for the procedure.
After surgery, health care providers will monitor you closely in the recovery room. Patients usually remain in the recovery room for a few hours. Once you have recovered from the anesthesia, you will be transferred to your room. The team will develop an activity program to suit your individual recovery needs.
Leaving the Hospital
You can expect to go home on the day of surgery or the day after. Again, a free car service can take you home. Most patients go home to recover after surgery, but some need care at a skilled nursing facility. Depending on your situation, you may need home visits by a physical therapist, occupational therapist, or nurse.
Recovery at Home
To assist in your postsurgical recovery, you can receive, free, up to $100 in groceries delivered to your home by Fresh Direct. Your care guide will reach out to you when you return home to make sure you have what you need and to answer any questions. Your care guide will assist in coordinating home services and arranging any follow-up medical appointments you may need. Physical therapy is an important part of your recovery process. Physical therapy can take place at home or in a physical therapy office. You will need to see your surgeon for a follow-up visit about two weeks after surgery.
*Lyft credit given for day of surgery and also on day of discharge (some restrictions may apply).
Weight Loss Surgery
Preparation for and recuperation from weight loss surgery can be stressful and challenging for both you and your caretaker. The Mount Sinai Morningside Bariatric Surgery Program provides a coordinated plan of care to support DC 9 patients throughout the surgical experience.
Program benefits include:
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Access to our best bariatric surgeons
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No co-pays on your day of surgery
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Personal care guide to help you navigate from start to finish
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Free transportation to and from the hospital on your surgery day
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A guarantee that you will not receive a surprise bill
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Pre- and postoperative support groups
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Protein shake gift certificates when you attend postsurgery weight loss support groups
Your Personal Care Team
You will receive a dedicated care guide to support you throughout the presurgical, surgical, and recovery periods. Your care guide will meet with you at various points throughout your journey to answer questions, provide guidance, and support your recovery.
Your Patient Journey
Our goal is to not only help you reach a healthy and sustainable weight, but also to ensure your entire surgical experience is positive and successful.
Education and Surgical Clearance
After you meet with a surgeon and begin preparing for surgery, you will need to have certain tests performed to get clearances from health care professionals. You will need to have consultations with a nutritionist, psychiatrist or psychologist, gastroenterologist, cardiologist and/or pulmonologist, and possibly others to determine physical and mental readiness for the procedure.
You can expect the time between your first consultation and your surgery date to be at least six months if you begin the process at Mount Sinai Morningside.
Support Groups
Preoperative support groups are a free resource for anyone considering weight loss surgery at Mount Sinai Morningside. We encourage you to bring family members and significant others.
It is helpful to have the support of friends and family as you consider weight loss surgery, and we encourage you to bring someone with you to your initial consultation. Discussing your feelings and goals regarding surgery with this person—and involving them in your recovery—may help you make decisions more comfortably along the way.
Your Hospital Stay
On the day of your surgery, we can offer a free ride to the hospital via the car service Lyft*. When you arrive at the hospital, you will report to the registration desk. After surgery, you will be monitored closely in the recovery room. Patients usually remain in the recovery room for a few hours. Once you have recovered from the anesthesia, you will be transferred to your room.
Leaving the Hospital
You can expect to leave the hospital the next day. Again, you can get a free car service ride home. After you’ve returned home, you will receive a call from your care guide within 72 hours. They will check that appropriate services are in place, you and your family’s needs are met, and all questions are answered.
Recovery at Home and Ongoing Support
To assist in your postsurgical recovery, you can receive, free, up to $100 in groceries delivered to your home by Fresh Direct. After surgery, you will need to follow a specific postsurgical diet. This is crucial to your recovery and overall success. Similarly, it is imperative that you follow up with your surgical team and nutritionist after surgery. You will have follow-up milestone appointments with your surgeon and nutritionist at weeks one and five, and then at months three, six, and twelve.
The Mount Sinai Morningside Bariatric Surgery Program offers complimentary postsurgical support groups. You may also attend this meeting if you have not yet had surgery but want to learn about the lifestyle changes facing postoperative patients. The postsurgery support groups are voluntary, but we strongly recommend them to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle and weight.
*Lyft credit given for day of surgery and also on day of discharge (some restrictions may apply).