The switch from fee-for-service to pay-for-performance is stressful for healthcare providers, but even amid this monumental change hospitals and health systems continue to expand orthopedic offerings and services.
Orthopedics is an attractive specialty right now for several reasons; there is an increasing active and aging population who will need orthopedic care in the future for several injuries and conditions, including arthritis, sports injuries or fracture care. Technology for less invasive procedures — and the ability to achieve better outcomes for complex surgeries — makes orthopedics an exciting field today.
Studies show high-volume centers and specialized surgeons have the best outcomes in orthopedic surgery, especially with joint replacement procedures. Good outcomes are becoming even more important as patient satisfaction and clinical quality benchmarks are measured, publicly reported and tied to reimbursement.
As a result, many hospitals — including most recently Hartford Hospital — are opening and constructing new dedicated orthopedic and joint surgery facilities to meet their patients' needs.
Hartford Hospital will begin construction on a $150 million Bone and Joint Institute, which will include an orthopedics-focused ambulatory surgery center for outpatient procedures. More orthopedic surgeries are now performed on an outpatient basis, allowing patients to recover at home more comfortably.
"The Bone and Joint Institute is a game-changer for patients and for our state," said Executive Vice President and COO for Hartford HealthCare Jeffrey Flaks. "It is about delivering the triple aim: a better patient experience at the most affordable cost with the highest quality of care. This continues our vision of providing one high standard of care, enhances care coordination, improves efficiency. By increasing our volume, we can help make healthcare more affordable and we can reinvest in our community."
Here are five quick facts about the new Bone and Joint Institute:
• There will be five floors with 10 inpatient and outpatient operating rooms.
• The new facility is 130,000 square feet.
• The inpatient bed capacity will expand to nearly 80 beds
• The facility will include orthopedic urgent care.
• There will be diagnostic services and public space available in the new building.
The Bone and Joint Institute is expected to open in 2016.
"It will clearly differentiate Hartford Hospital as the destination for orthopedic care in New England," said Stuart Markowitz, MD, president of Hartford Hospital. "This is a movement to completely redesign the way in which Hartford Hospital provides musculoskeletal care. All relevant subspecialties will be under one roof."
The expansion has other advantages, including recruitment for orthopedic surgeons in the future. Hartford Hospital is partnering with Orthopedic Associates of Hartford to develop the Institute, following another trend in the industry: hospital alignment with physician groups. Orthopaedic Associates of Hartford includes 30 fellowship-trained orthopedic surgeons and is the largest orthopedic group in Connecticut.
"The expansion will allow Hartford Hospital to meet a new era in healthcare," said Courtland Lewis, MD, who will lead the Institute. "Every professional in the Institute from the anesthesiologists to the radiologists will be exclusively trained in musculoskeletal care where they can share best practices centered on the patient. The end result is improving access to quality care, while reducing costs and keeping patients healthy."