Avera McKennan Earns Advanced Hip & Knee Certification

Dustin Bechtold, MD

Avera McKennan Hospital & University Health Center has received the prestigious Advanced Hip & Knee Certification by DNV.

The Advanced Hip & Knee Certification validates Avera McKennan’s dedication to patient safety, clinical excellence and patient-centered care. Certification means patients can trust that Avera McKennan has the necessary equipment, personnel and training to deliver world-class orthopedic surgery services from diagnosis to treatment, education and rehabilitation.

Hospitals that are certified demonstrate compliance with the DNV standards and adherence to guidelines of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons.

“We have always made it a goal to achieve the very best results for our joint replacement patients. Having those efforts validated with this certification means that we are achieving that goal along with the best programs in the country,” said Dustin Bechtold, MD, Avera orthopedic surgeon and Medical Director for the DNV advanced hip/knee certification program. “In order to receive the certification, every member of our staff has to be aligned with a common goal of safety and success and I love how that translates to a team approach to excellence. We will continue to monitor, adjust and ensure that every patient trusting their care to us gets the best that modern joint replacement has to offer.”

Specialists at Avera Orthopedics begin with conservative, nonsurgical options to address hip and knee pain, often caused by arthritis, and restore mobility. If surgery is required, Avera surgeons use the latest minimally invasive and robotic-assisted techniques to help ensure the best possible outcomes and a faster recovery. In Sioux Falls, the Avera Orthopedics program is centered at Avera Specialty Hospital on the Avera on Louise Health Campus, operating as a department of Avera McKennan.