For months, everyday movements had become painful for Christine (Chris) Forst of Frederick.
Simple tasks like reaching, driving or lifting light objects brought sharp pain that spread down her arm and into her fingers.
“It got to the point where I couldn’t even drive,” she said. “I’d try to hold on to things, but my grip would give out and I’d drop them.”
Chris was referred to orthopedic surgeon Gabriel Petruccelli, MD, by a close friend. After a successful shoulder replacement on her left side in 2021, she didn’t hesitate to return to him and Adventist HealthCare Shady Grove Medical Center in October 2025, when arthritis in her right shoulder began to worsen.
During Chris’s recent surgery, Dr. Petruccelli used the hospital’s GPS-guided system to help personalize the procedure. Chris felt reassured that her surgeon had computer-navigated technology that allowed for such precision.
“It was impressive to know he had tools that could guide his hands so perfectly,” she said.
Just days after surgery, Chris noticed the improvements. Her pain was gone. She needed only over-the-counter medication to stay comfortable, a remarkable difference from the constant, intense pain she’d felt all summer.
Chris credits her smooth experience to the entire care team at Shady Grove Medical Center, beginning with Dr. Petruccelli, who helped the hospital reach its 500th surgery milestone. From preregistration a week before surgery to the gentle, thoughtful nurses, surgical techs and nursing assistants who cared for her afterward, every detail mattered.
“The staff was wonderful,” she said. “They updated each other at every shift change and even asked if I wanted to add anything. It made me feel seen and included.”
That attention to detail helped Shady Grove Medical Center’s shoulder, hip and knee replacement programs to earn The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval. The certification demonstrates a hospital team’s commitment to safety and quality.
As Chris begins physical therapy, she looks forward to driving again, playing chess with her grandkids and, as she puts it, “properly dressing Barbie.” Her goal: live to 95 and stay active at the YMCA.
“I had the best care each time I’ve been here,” she said about her hospital stays. “Every process was a 10.”
Hear from our surgeons and discover how the nationally recognized joint replacement programs at Adventist HealthCare support patients at every step.
