Allan Kuklinski works hard and plays hard.

He’s passionate about his job at Keller, Inc., one of Wisconsin’s leading general contractors specializing in commercial, industrial, municipal and agricultural construction.

And he’s passionate about his motorcycle trips as well.
Pain in his right leg began to affect both passions.

Over the course of the last few years, Kuklinski endured increasing pain in the thigh, calf and knee. His primary care physician said signs pointed to a hip issue; x-rays confirmed the diagnosis. A subsequent visit to an orthopedic surgeon said a total hip replacement was an option. It just depended on how long Kuklinski was willing to go on with the pain.

Allan & Mary Kuklinski at Mount Rushmore.

Kuklinski thought about waiting until he turned 55, as he heard that hip implants could last up to 30 years. But motorcycle trips he embraced when feeling good became challenges to be endured.

“I was always pulling over to take Advil,” said Kuklinski. “It interfered with my fun.”

Pulling over wasn’t an issue solely dedicated to leisure moments. The Kaukauna-based safety manager spends half his work time traveling to job sites conducting OSHA compliance and company safety training for his crew members. Obligatory stops on drives to and from onsite visits were becoming more frequent — and more painful.
Finally, it was enough.

“It became a quality of life issue for me,” said Kuklinski.

Surgery was scheduled for July, but Kuklinski still had to power through one more multi-state motorcycle trip in June before getting any relief.

Kuklinski opted for a bundled surgery through NOVO Health. An employee-owned company, Keller, Inc. is self-funded and pays its health care bills directly. Via an engaged HR team, Kuklinski already knew the financial benefits for his company by getting his surgery through NOVO Health. He would become familiar with additional benefits by being a patient.

“NOVO Health is very user-friendly,” Kuklinski said. “You get used to a health care process where you have to run around, get this, do that. Dealing with NOVO Health, I don’t think I had 10 minutes tied up in putting everything together.”

Dr. David Kuplic of the Orthopedic & Sports Institute (OSI) performed the surgery on July 22. Kuklinski recovered at OSI’s attached skilled nursing facility and was home two days later.

At the time of this interview, Kuklinski was not quite three weeks out from surgery and had been back to work for over a week.

“Zero pain from the surgery, and I’m feeling so well right now,” said Kuklinski. “I love where I’m at.”

Asked what he liked best about the patient experience, Kuklinski did not hesitate.

“NOVO Health is just so easy to use. There is no reason not to seek it out,” he said.

Kuklinski has already put the motorcycles away for the year, but rest assured he’s got other things on the horizon (a fall hunting trip in Montana, for one).

And he’s looking for an additional benefit from his surgery when he resumes another passion: golf.

“I had Dr. Kuplic put in a 3.5 degree offset hip to cure my slice,” joked Kuklinski. “That should bring me down from a 12 to an 8 handicap right there.”

Scott Hutchinson

Scott Hutchinson

Scott Hutchinson is a writer and content creator for NOVO Health.

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