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A few years ago patients undergoing total knee or hip replacement surgeries could expect to spend up to two weeks in the hospital recovering.  Now, new technology and closer patient care attention has a Midlands hospital knocking that recovering time down dramatically.

Francis Huggins is taking big steps towards recovery, just three days after having a total knee replacement at Palmetto Health Richland.

"Its very important you have the right doctors taking care of your needs," said Huggins.  "To have these facilities for total joint, it makes you as a patient feel very thankful."

The facility Huggins is talking about was recently honored with the Blue Distinction Award by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Carolina.  The award recognizes The Total Joint Center as a leader in healthcare.

"The medical part is very routine, so we can focus on their experience to try and make their experience better," said Dr. Bradley Presnal.  "That's a big part of the joint center for me."

Nurse Carla Derrick knows it takes a team effort to provide award-winning patient care.

"We think about the patients' safety, the patients' quality," said Derrick.  "All of that is taken into consideration when we planned for this program."

The speedy procedure will benefit nearly 1,200 patients this year alone.

"The Blue Distinction will give us as another demonstration that we're doing the right thing," said Derrick.

And for patients like Francis Huggins, things are definitely going right as she gets ready to head home.

"I'm raring to go," said Huggins.