A registry is a central database that contains information about patients who have a specific medical condition. The same information is collected about each patient and can be used to compare treatments and the results (or “outcomes”) of those treatments. There are many different types of registries in existence today both in the United States and throughout the world that focus on a variety of conditions and/or procedures. Some examples include heart surgery, hip and knee surgery, cancer and diabetes.

The California Joint Replacement Registry (CJRR) is a central database that contains information about patients who are having their hip and/or knee(s) replaced with an artificial, implantable hip or knee device. It was developed by the California HealthCare Foundation (CHCF) in collaboration with the California Orthopaedic Association (COA) and the Pacific Business Group on Health (PBGH). CHCF is an independent philanthropy based in Oakland committed to improving the way health care is delivered and financed in California. COA is a membership association representing the interests of approximately 2,100 California orthopedic surgeons.

PBGH is a not-for-profit coalition of 50 large employers in California that provide health care coverage to more than 3 million employees, retirees, and their dependents. PBGH manages the day-to-day operations of the CJRR.

The CJRR is designed to identify important information like how well certain surgical techniques, medications, and devices work. Such information is important to improving care for current and future hip and knee replacement patients. The registry also will allow your health care provider to find out as soon as possible whether there are any problems with the hip or knee implants used in your surgery and to contact you right away.

The CJRR collects detailed information about your hip and/or knee replacement including:

• where your surgery took place (which hospital);

• who your surgeon was; the specific type of implant you received;

• which side of your body you were operated on;

• the medications given to you before and after your surgery;

• other selected information about you that is important to know since it can impact the results of the surgery– like your age and whether you have other conditions like diabetes or heart disease;

• information from you about how you felt before and after your surgery (called “patient- reported outcomes”).

• This information is collected through surveys that you would fill out on a secure website before your surgery and at a few times after your surgery (e.g. six months, and one year); and

• your scrambled Social Security Number which identifies you as you