Aug 9, 2026
Transylvania Regional Hospital introduces new Total Joint program
Michele Pilon
Transylvania Regional Hospital
In May I made the exciting announcement that Transylvania Regional Hospital is introducing our new Total Joint Program, which meets each patient where they are before, during, and following their orthopedic surgery.
The need for orthopedic surgery is only increasing in our region and across the country, fueled in part by a growing number of adults who want to stay active longer.
The goal with any surgery is to prevent complications, and with procedures like knee and hip replacements, paving the way for a smooth surgical experience and recovery is critical. Patients are counseled on nutritional and other lifestyle changes they can make – like quitting smoking if they use tobacco – prior to surgery that will increase their chances for successful outcomes, as well as ensuring that any chronic conditions like diabetes or high blood pressure are well controlled by the time surgery day arrives.
Our program also focuses on making sure the patient is fully prepared for coming home after surgery (that their home is accident-proofed, for example, and that they have food and assistance from a loved one in the early days after surgery) and is invested in their rehabilitation program so they can be moving comfortably and safely as soon as possible.
One of the biggest advancements enhancing our Total Joint Program has been the addition of advanced robotic-assisted surgical technology. This state-of-the-art system enables surgeons to perform joint replacement procedures with an unprecedented level of accuracy and precision.
It attains this level of excellence because the platform employs both 3D imaging and robotic technology — the combination of which allows each procedure to be completely personalized for each individual patient’s procedure and needs. This level of individualized care means that patients have superior experiences and better outcomes. Surgery done with this system is considered minimally invasive, which is much less traumatic to the body.
Because small incisions are required, patients recover more comfortably and quickly, and experience less bleeding and scarring. The risk for post-surgical infection and other complications is also reduced.
Thanks to the system’s 3D imaging technology, the orthopedic surgeon is able to review the patient’s joint in detail before the procedure even happens, enhancing their ability to prepare for and be ready to perform the surgery. During surgery the robotic arm helps the surgeon perform more precisely by guiding them as they go and lowering the likelihood for human error during the procedure.
This robotic system is suited especially well for partial knee replacements, full knee replacements, and hip replacements.
Now patients who are living with debilitating arthritis, joint pain, and other limiting, uncomfortable conditions have an even better path to freedom from pain and restricted movement.
Finally, I’d like to introduce our new board-certified orthopedic surgeon Dr. David Braun, who comes to us from Tampa, Florida. He has extensive experience with joint reconstruction and performing advanced surgical techniques, specializing in arthroscopic and reconstructive procedures of the shoulder, hip, and knee for patients of all ages. He has also worked with and treated collegiate and professional sports teams like the Cleveland Cavaliers and the Pittsburgh Pirates. Dr. Braun has deep experience performing robotic surgery and brings overall surgical expertise, as well as great compassion for his patients to our community.
Dr. Braun sees patients Monday through Friday at Brevard Orthopedics and will be performing orthopedic surgery at TRH. Thanks to him, community members can access the best of orthopedic care right here, close to home.
We are thrilled to have Dr. Braun with us, and to be offering our innovative Total Joint Program to our community members. This is an example of responding to our community’s growing need for orthopedic care, and ensuring that our program provides the most advanced care.
Michele Pilon, MS, BSN, RN, NE-BC, is the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Nursing Officer of Transylvania Regional Hospital. Her diverse professional experience includes service as a bedside nurse and over a decade as a leader at healthcare institutions in Virginia, Florida, and North Carolina. Ms. Pilon earned a Bachelor’s in Nursing from Ohio’s University of Akron and a Masters in Health Services Administration from the University of St. Francis in Illinois. She is also a board-certified nursing executive.
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