Original article at https://www.happeningsmagazinepa.com/2019/01/31/john-j-mercuri-m-d/
Orthopaedic Surgeon, Specializing in knee and hip replacements.
Getting top physicians to stay in our region is sometimes a challenge. Dr. John J. Mercuri earned his medical degree from New York University School of Medicine in New York City. He also earned a master’s degree in bioethics.
He completed his orthopaedic residency at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases and his joint replacement fellowship with the Insall Scott Kelly Institute for Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine.
Dr. Mercuri’s family has been in the area for over 100 years. “I’m excited to take care of the community that raised me,” he said. “It’s a privilege to help patients heal and recover in Geisinger Community Medical Center – the same hospital where I was born.”
Dr. Mercuri is a graduate of Scranton Preparatory School and The University of Scranton and was inducted into the college’s 2017 athletic Wall of Fame. He has co-authored over a dozen academic journal publications and presented at national academic meetings. Dr. Mercuri’s humanitarian efforts include a surgical relief trip to Haiti.
Happenings Magazine recently spoke to Dr. Mercuri to discuss the path that led him to Orthopaedics and ultimately back to Northeast PA.
What inspires you most about Geisinger?
Geisinger is the leader in Northeastern and Central Pennsylvania for exceptional medical care. It is also committed to training the next generation of physicians at the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, and it helps to advance health care through research and innovation. In other words, Geisinger is the total package.
Please put into context how rapidly health care is evolving.
Every patient knows that health care has traditionally been disorganized, frustrating and extremely expensive. The old way of doing things is simply no longer sustainable. Geisinger coordinates a patient’s medical care across its physicians, hospitals, insurance plans and pharmacies. This allows Geisinger to provide the highest level of care to its patients with the least complications and lowest costs. This type of integrated health system is rapidly becoming the future of health care in the United States, and Geisinger is viewed by other health systems across the country as an example of how to achieve these goals.
Describe major improvements at Geisinger locally.
There have been substantial investments made at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton. Most noticeable is a large expansion project that built new, state-of-the-art operating rooms. Honestly, the operating rooms that we have here in Scranton are vastly better than most of the operating rooms that I trained in during my residency and fellowship in New York City. Additionally, throughout the entire hospital building, Geisinger has made substantial renovations to modernize the facility. We really have a hidden gem here in Scranton—an ultra-modern hospital across the street from a park and a museum. I believe that any type of surgery that I did during my training in New York City can be done right here at Geisinger Community Medical Center.
Discuss Geisinger’s investment in computer navigation technology/robotics.
Geisinger has invested millions of dollars in robotic and computer technology which allows me to improve the way I treat my patients. For every patient who has hip or knee arthritis, I am now able to make a digital surgical plan that is specific to that patient and accurate down to a single millimeter or degree. In this way, my patients’ surgeries are already finished before they ever walk into an operating room. I then use robotics and computer technology to perform the surgery and deliver the exact plan that I made for that specific patient. This helps eliminate some of the common problems that occur with joint replacements including dislocations, instability, implant failures, etc. Anything that I can do to improve the longevity of a joint replacement is important because there are many younger patients who develop arthritis but want to keep living an active lifestyle.
Discuss the ever-increasing population of older adults and the need for Arthoplasty.
Total joint arthroplasty is the formal term to describe a surgery where a painful arthritic joint is replaced with a prosthetic joint. As a result, this surgery is commonly referred to as a total joint replacement. It is also possible to perform a partial joint replacement, depending on which part of the joint is most severely damaged. Over one million hip and knee replacements are performed annually in the United States. Some estimates suggest that this number will increase to around four million by the year 2030 as the Baby Boomer population continues to age. Overall, about 30 million people in the country have osteoarthritis in either the hip or knee.
Discuss Medicare’s role in knee and hip replacement surgeries.
In 2014, Medicare spent about $7 billion on 400,000 total joint replacements for Medicare patients. Those costs have been growing along with the increased number of surgeries being performed. There has been intense effort in recent years to increase the value of total joint replacements by increasing quality and decreasing costs. Focusing on increased value will be the only way to provide care for all of the beneficiaries who need surgery without bankrupting the Medicare system. Interestingly, total joint replacements are already some of the most cost effective surgical procedures that we offer in the United States. The primary problem is just the overwhelming number of patients who need to undergo the surgery.
Are there any activities or traumatic events that have a direct connection to the need for joint replacement? What causes arthritis?
There are no direct relationships between specific athletic activities and the development of hip or knee arthritis. However, any traumatic injury to a joint, including injuries caused by sporting activities, can certainly trigger the development of arthritis at an earlier age than what might have otherwise occurred. Arthritis is an inflammation of one or more joints. It typically causes pain, stiffness and swelling. There are many types of arthritis. A very common type of arthritis in older adults is osteoarthritis. The hip and knee joints are commonly affected. Osteoarthritis occurs when the cartilage that cushions and protects the joints gradually wears away. A major factor in this process is the natural wear and tear on your hip and knee joints that occurs as you get older. However, there are other important factors such as genetics, childhood development, immune system function and joint injuries.
Discuss the relationship between joint replacement, gender and age.
Osteoarthritis is more common in older adults. It is also more common in women, and it is more common in the knee joint. There are many non-operative and operative treatments for osteoarthritis. Ultimately, when your symptoms can no longer be controlled with non-operative treatments, the final treatment is a knee or hip replacement. Most surgical patients are between the ages of 50 and 80, but joint replacements have been performed successfully in patients of all ages. Generally, if you are suffering from severe joint pain that limits your normal everyday activities, and if non-operative treatments are no longer working for you, then you will likely benefit from a joint replacement.
What is the relationship between overall health and joints?
Having a joint replacement is almost always a decision that people make to improve their quality of life. Very few patients absolutely need to have a joint replacement for some serious reason. Instead, having a joint replacement is a decision that you will make together with your surgeon, your other physicians and your family when your pain is severely limiting your normal everyday activities. Anytime you have a surgery, there are risks associated with the surgery. Some of the more common risks of joint replacements include infection, instability or dislocation, loosening of the parts, fracture of the bone, poor wound healing and blood clots. Many of these risks are increased in patients who are unhealthy. Some of the most common medical problems that increase your risk of complication include tobacco use, obesity, diabetes, poor dentition, heart disease and kidney disease. In order to get the best outcome from your joint replacement, you should optimize your overall health before undergoing surgery.
Do you have any memorable success stories to share?
My team at Geisinger Community Medical Center has worked very hard to a start a same-day discharge program for joint replacement. With this program, patients are able to have their surgery in the morning and then go home that same afternoon. Everything that my patients need to recover is brought directly to their own home including medications, physical therapy and nursing care. All of the patients who have participated in this program are memorable success stories in my mind. They are by far my happiest patients. There is nothing like recovering in the comfort of your own home.
Tell us about your mentor, Dr. Joseph Zuckerman.
Dr. Joseph Zuckerman is the Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery at NYU Langone Health, and he is nationally recognized for his contributions to the field. When I was a first-year medical student, I sent him an email asking if I could learn more about orthopedic surgery. He replied to my email in about five minutes and invited me to his office. I was impressed that a famous department chairman would reply so quickly to a medical student who he had never met. After our meeting, he invited me to shadow him in the operating room to witness a knee replacement. It was one of the most impressive things that I had ever seen. Dr. Zuckerman subsequently acted as my mentor during the remainder of medical school, became one of my surgical professors. He heavily influenced where I am today, and I will be forever grateful.
As a physician, how do you participate in the training of the next generation?
Medical education still relies heavily on an apprenticeship model. Students and young physicians learn just as much about how to care for patients from the exam room and the operating room as they do from the classroom. I believe that all physicians have an obligation to take what they learned from physicians before them, update that information with the newest advancements, and pass it along to the next generation. I am extremely lucky that the Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine is located right here in Scranton. That provides me with a fantastic opportunity to teach medical students about orthopaedic surgery, and hopefully my involvement might impact a young student to enter the field.
What do you like most about this region?
It is a fantastic place to live. The quality of living is very high and it is a great place to raise a family. The people are friendly, hardworking, have deep values and care about their community. The area is easily accessible to both New York City and Philadelphia. The landscape is beautiful, and there are countless outdoor activities to enjoy.
Family: Wife, Elizabeth (from Hudson Valley of New York.) Met at The University of Scranton. She is currently working in the Art and Music program at The University of Scranton. Son, John Mercuri, 1 year old son; the fourth consecutive John Mercuri. Parents reside in North Pocono. My father, Atty John Mercuri, served for many years as a Magisterial District Judge.
Lessons learned from Scranton Prep and The University of Scranton:
I learned to think critically by studying the liberal arts, especially philosophy. I learned to reflect on my everyday experiences and find the teachable moments. I also learned to care for those around me and use my unique skills to give back to the community. I am certain that the successes that I had in medical school, residency and fellowship were built upon the foundation that my Jesuit education laid for me.
Hobbies and Activities:
I began running when I joined the cross-country team at Scranton Prep. When I started, I was not very good. But, I fell in love with the sport, and I committed myself to being the best runner that I could be. With the help of many different people in my life, especially my parents and my coach William Burke, I was able to achieve a lot of success in my athletic career.
Overall Best Health Tip:
Find a physical activity that you are passionate about, and then make time to do it. Exercise also has mental benefits. I am also a big supporter of getting enough sleep. It is hard to be at your best if you are tired.