Table 4 AHP subthemes and sample quotes*

   "It's so hard to get information about the type of surgery... it's like pulling teeth. So lack of information is problematic and it's one of the frustrations I think most therapists face." [41 F, PT]

   "...because we're small, we can call up one person... so it's easy. I think it works well, the link from the communication we have, acute hospital stay to community back into the outpatient department." [44 F, OT]

   "The patients themselves - just their attitude, their motivation. We see people for pre-op and I think 'Oh, it's going to be terrible when they have their surgery and they come back.' Right away I can tell this person's going to have a hard time." [39 M, PT]

   "...there's a contract between the patient and myself. They've actually given something up and I have taken it from them, so there's a bit of an obligation there as a professional to make sure I give back to them the value for what they're paying for." [61 M, PT]

   "...people motivate each other. They can compare notes, etcetera, but sometimes the comparison can work negatively in that they'll say 'Oh well, I had a hip surgery by Dr. whoever and I'm at this week and I'm no where near where you are'." [41 F, PT]

   "...it's really inconsistent among physicians in terms of who gets referred to home care and who gets referred to outpatient. There's no consistency... especially between health regions." [31 F, OT]

   "...some patients run out of physical therapy appointments. You know, their insurance only pays for 12 a year or something, and so you hit the 12 mark and there's not a whole lot you can do except for rely on them to do the exercises at home, and it can be a major impediment." [30 F, PA]

   "...the [public] system the way that it's designed doesn't really follow through long enough. I'd like to have a six-month follow-up with these patients because I believe that most of the improvement that they see will occur in that early time. There are some gaps and I believe people sometimes don't reach their potential because of those gaps." [61 M, PT]

   "We get a lot of feedback from patients that tell us that getting to see the physical therapist [pre-op] and sort of train for the experience as though it's a sporting event and they have to be in shape for it... so that they're in shape to cope with what happens after the surgery." [53 F, RN]

   "...phases I and II in the hospital where we have our rehab and then they go into the maintenance phase, which usually is within the community. Maybe we need to work together more as a whole, from surgery on and having those different phases available to the clients." [28 F, KIN]

   "Decreased pain, because I think that's the thing that people most want to get rid of. Whether that's with activity or just in standing, it isn't really relevant as long as whatever they're doing is pain free." [40 F, PT]

   "It would be really nice if they came through the whole process without looking upon it as an enormous nightmare, that things have gone smoothly. You can't always predict everything I realize, but that they had a sense of confidence and a sense of control in the whole thing so that it's been a worthwhile process." [44 F, OT]