Every provider strives to deliver positive patient outcomes and an excellent experience. By applying innovative technology and relying on key partnerships, Orlando (Fla.) Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute wants to take the patient experience to the next level.
The president of Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, orthopedic surgeon Michael Jablonski, MD, recently joined Becker’s ASC podcast to talk about the organization’s rich history, its focus on patient experience and how strategic partnerships are helping elevate patient care.
Legacy of excellence drives Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute’s focused vision
The Jewett Orthopaedic Clinic was founded in 1936 by Eugene Jewett, a graduate of Harvard Medical School. Throughout the mid-20th century, hip and spine fractures saw a 90% mortality rate according to Dr. Jablonski. To create relief, Dr. Jewett developed an implant to fix hip fractures, as well as a back brace that soon saw worldwide use.
In addition to being considered a leading innovator in orthopedic surgery, Dr. Jewett received four Bronze Stars, awarded for acts of heroism, merit or meritorious service, in combat during World War II; conducted research; and trained countless orthopedic surgeons around the world.
In 2015, leaders from the Jewett Orthopaedic Clinic and Orlando Health began discussing a collaborative vision to combine resources to improve patient outcomes and the patient experience. The result was the formation of Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute, which now consists of 14 orthopedic clinics across the region and the only orthopedic specialty hospital in Florida.
Today, Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute has one facility that includes both an ambulatory surgery center and hospital. This unique facility includes a 12-operating room outpatient surgery center, a 10-OR inpatient facility for orthopedics and spine surgery only, a 75-bed inpatient hospital and a teaching fl oor with a 10-station cadaver lab. The ambulatory surgery center was named the Eugene Jewett, MD, Surgery Center as another avenue to pay homage to the clinic’s founder.
The Institute now has 65 physicians and 75 advanced providers and has tripled in size over the past three years. “We came together to go back into teaching, to get back into doing research and to really get back into doing what we were founded upon,” Dr. Jablonski told Becker’s ASC podcast.
Key partnership drives positive patient outcomes and future success
One of the Institute’s goals was to take its patient experience to the next level.
A unique area of focus was helping alleviate any anxieties patients and their family members may have about their upcoming surgery. The Institute learned that anxiety is often based on fears and uncertainties related to the surgery and not understanding how the surgery works. For example, some patients and family members are scared about the idea of “hardware” or an “implant,” and others are worried about a robot being used.
To reduce this anxiety, the Institute partnered with Stryker to create an educational showroom. The showroom includes a mock OR, a mock robot and multiple examples of different implants. Patients and their loved ones can also interact with educational content on these Stryker technologies and their corresponding procedures on a large touchscreen monitor in front of the educational showroom. Patient ambassadors walk patients through every aspect of their surgery and answer any questions that might come up.
In collaborating with Stryker, Dr. Jablonski said he applauds Stryker’s focus on patient outcomes, improving implants and their keen interest in reducing patient anxiety to provide an enhanced patient experience.
“We show them it’s not as scary as it sounds,” Dr. Jablonski told Becker’s ASC podcast. “It really does reduce anxiety right when they walk in the door.”
Dr. Jablonski also emphasized the importance of finding a vendor that fits an organization’s culture. With Stryker, Orlando Health Jewett Orthopedic Institute found not just a vendor, but a partner for the future — which is key to each organization’s success.