2014 Orthopaedic Surgery Annual Report

2014

ORTHOPAEDIC SURGERY ANNUAL REPORT

Christiana Care Health System Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

The Christiana Care Way We serve our neighbors as respectful, expert, caring partners in their health. We do this by creating innovative, effective, affordable systems of care that our neighbors value.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1

LETTER FROM THE CHAIR

2

CENTER FOR ADVANCED JOINT REPLACEMENT

6

TRAUMA

8

FOOT AND ANKLE

10

SPINE

12

HAND

13

ORTHOPAEDIC ONCOLOGY

14

BONE HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE

16

ORTHOPAEDIC EDUCATION

“My goal, along with the other orthopaedic surgeons at Christiana Care Health System, is to help patients return to a pain-free active lifestyle.”

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Christiana Care

Because fixing fractures and replacing joints are treatments

Health System has become an essential catalyst for improving

but not prevention, the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

the lives of our neighbors by building multidisciplinary medical

creates targeted initiatives to improve bone and joint health. Our

teams that use state-of-the-science techniques and technology

department partners with colleagues in women’s health, family

to return patients to a higher level of activity.

medicine, nuclear medicine and the emergency department to

We embrace the Christiana Care Way by partnering with

prevent fragility fractures and encourage strong bone health.

patients and clinicians to deliver the best possible orthopaedic

Our future focus is on metrics that show the value associated with

care. In this report, you will read about the accomplishments of

the care we provide. Strengthened by seed funding from a portion

each of the department’s sections plus the collaborations section

of the Clinical Translation Research grant, we are at the cusp of

leaders have built with other disciplines to provide some of the

another forward step in caring for our community.

best orthopaedic care in the nation. For example, > Our orthopaedic spine surgeons collaborating with neurologists to detect and treat pain caused by cancer.

They participate in multidisciplinary centers at the

Thank you for looking through this report. It is with the collaborative efforts of many that we will sustain progress.

With best regards,

Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute to improve the lives of cancer patients. > Our orthopaedic hand surgeons working with plastic surgeons to improve the functionality and look of limbs

Brian Galinat, M.D., MBA Chair, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery

damaged by accident or injury. > Our orthopaedic ankle and foot surgeons are partnering with podiatrists to improve the lives of patients crippled by arthritis, injury or deformity.

YEAR IN REVIEW | christianacare.org

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CENTER FOR ADVANCED JOINT REPLACEMENT

ADVANCING CLINICAL EXCELLENCE

GOLD STANDARD Christiana Care’s Center for Advanced Joint

“In achieving Joint Commission certification,

Replacement carries the prestigious Joint

Christiana Care has demonstrated a

Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval™ for its

commitment to the highest level of care

total hip- and knee-replacement programs.

for its patients undergoing hip and knee

The certification recognizes Christiana Care’s

replacements,” says Jean Range, MS, RN,

compliance with The Joint Commission’s national CPHQ, executive director, Disease-Specific state-of-the-art standards for health care quality

Care Certification, The Joint Commission.

and safety in disease-specific care.

“Certification is a voluntary process, and I

Christiana Care is one of only 300 hospitals in the U.S. to achieve this certification. The Center for Advanced Joint Replacement was recently re-awarded this honor. Christiana Care underwent

commend Christiana Care for successfully undertaking this challenge to elevate its standard of care and instill confidence in the community it serves.”

a rigorous on-site visit, where a team of Joint

The Joint Commission launched its disease-

Commission expert surveyors evaluated the

specific care certification program in 2002

Center for Advanced Joint Replacement for

to evaluate clinical programs across the

compliance with standards of care specific to

continuum of care. Certification requirements

the needs of patients and families, including

address three core areas: compliance with

infection prevention and control, leadership and

consensus-based national standards; effective

medication management.

use of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to manage and optimize care; and an organized approach to performance measurement and improvement activities.

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CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH SYSTEM DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPAEDICS

300 ONE OF 300 HOSPITALS NATIONWIDE TO

ACHIEVE JOINT COMMISSION TOTAL HIPAND KNEE-REPLACEMENT CERTIFICATION

2,300 IN 2013, CHRISTIANA CARE PERFORMED MORE THAN 2,000 TOTAL KNEE AND HIP REPLACEMENTS

The Doctor is the Patient When knee pain made climbing stairs difficult, Michael Stillabower, M.D., a cardiologist with Christiana Care Cardiology Consultants, knew it was time to find expert help. Increasing knee pain was robbing him of mobility. After researching the best surgeons and programs, he chose Steven Dellose, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon at Christiana Care’s Center for Advanced Joint Replacement at Wilmington Michael Stillabower, M.D.

Steven Dellose, M.D.

Hospital. Following surgery and rehabilitation at Christiana Care’s Rehabilitation Services, Dr. Stillabower was back to work in five weeks. “Now I’m much better with all my daily activities,” he says.

Section Chief, Leo Raisis, M.D. Leo Raisis, M.D., medical director of the Center for Advanced Joint Replacement, is an orthopaedic surgeon with a subspecialty in total hip and total knee replacement. Named to Delaware Today magazine’s “Top Docs” list, he is a Fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons and member of the Delaware Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Previously, Dr. Raisis served as Christiana Care Leo Raisis, M.D.

section chief of orthopaedic surgery. He is a past president of the Medical Society of Delaware and the New Castle County Medical Society and currently a member of the Christiana Care Health System Board of Directors.

YEAR IN REVIEW | christianacare.org

3

CENTER FOR ADVANCED JOINT REPLACEMENT

PUTTING PATIENTS FIRST

QUALITY CARE Since opening its doors in 2000, Christiana Care’s

Even as patient volume rises, the center has

Center for Advanced Joint Replacement, under

the shortest length of stay and the lowest

the direction of Medical Director Leo Raisis, M.D.,

complication rate in the region. According to

has developed a comprehensive, integrated

Medicare data, the Christiana Care Center for

process that puts patients first. The center’s

Advanced Joint Replacement is one of the top

goal is seamless care, starting at a patient’s

20 busiest joint replacement centers in the U.S.

orthopaedic surgeon’s office and continuing

as well as the lowest-cost provider in the region.

through pre-hospital assessment, patient education, admission, surgery and post-surgical rehabilitation. For more than 80 percent of our patients, it also includes discharge directly to home after a hospital stay of less than three days.

The Center for Advanced Joint Replacement is committed to staying on the cutting edge of joint care and replacement. To that end, we are collaborating with the University of Delaware to capture, record and track joint replacement

The Center for Advanced Joint Replacement

outcomes. This data will help us deliver the very

is growing both at Christiana Hospital and

best care to the people of our region.

Wilmington Hospital. The opening of the new wing at Wilmington Hospital added thirteen new surgery suites as well as singleoccupancy patient rooms.

Move Freely Our goal is to give back to patients a pain-free, active life. Thus, our surgeons regularly provide community lectures like “Move Freely without Pain” to educate patients about the function and maintenance of their knees and other joints. The department also provides an online bone and joint assessment for patients who are worried about their knees. Available at www.christianacare. org/jointtest, this screening tool provides strategies for living a pain-free, active life.

4

CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH SYSTEM DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPAEDICS

Jeannice Clark is an active woman who loves to cycle. Yet, biking accidents over the years had led to painful knees that limited her abilities and freedom. Thanks to knee replacement surgery at Christiana Care’s Center for Advanced Joint Replacement, she’s back to doing what she loves.

More than four years after surgery, Jeannice says she’s feeling “really great!” She reports that she and her husband are

“The surgical team and post-op rehabilitation

“going on biking trips to Florida and doing long-distance cycling to visit family and friends.”

staff were wonderful.”

Wilmington Wellness Day Staff from the Center for Advanced Joint Replacement are among many Christiana Care employees who participate in the annual Wilmington Wellness Day. Held in Rodney Square, the event brought information about how to live longer, happier and healthier lives to more than 2,500 city residents.

In addition to information on joint care, Christiana Care employees provided free health screenings, including blood pressure, cholesterol, nutrition, and osteoporosis—tests some lower-income residents may not be able to afford. The Christiana Care team screened more than 120 people and spoke with hundreds more about ways to prevent disease and stay healthy.

Operation Walk Center for Advanced Joint Replacement surgeons are as committed to helping patients access care as producing excellent outcomes for patients. Each year, Andrew Gelman, M.D. organizes Operation Walk at Christiana Care. A national initiative that provides free knee replacements to patients who lack insurance and cannot afford them, Operation Walk organizes surgeons – such as Alex Bodenstab, M.D., Leo Raisis, M.D. and James Rubano, M.D. – who are willing to donate their Andrew Gelman, M.D.

Alex Bodenstab, M.D.

time, hospitals willing to donate operating and patient rooms and medical device companies who donate implants. Christiana Care is one of 70 U.S. hospitals and health systems participating in Operation Walk.

YEAR IN REVIEW | christianacare.org

5

ORTHOPAEDIC TRAUMA SERVICE

UNEXPECTED EVENTS

AT THE READY Drew Brady, M.D.

Matthew Eichenbaum, M.D.

Christiana Care’s Orthopaedic Trauma Section,

trauma cases to Christiana Hospital, are driving

led by Section Chief Eric Johnson, M.D., has

the increase in volume.

grown from one orthopaedic traumatologist in 2006 to four fellowship-trained orthopaedic traumatologists today. These traumatologists and five other surgeons on the orthopaedic trauma team reflect Christiana Care’s commitment to providing the very best Mark Eskander, M.D.

Douglas Palma, M.D.

Joseph Mesa, M.D.

Because Christiana Care orthopaedic traumatologists and surgeons see more patients and perform more procedures, it has led to greater efficiency and a higher standard of care and produced better outcomes for patients.

orthopaedic trauma care. The volume and

We currently track our outcomes with the

complexity of serious injury as seen in our Level

National Safety and Quality Improvement

1 trauma center continues to dramatically grow

Program (NSQIP) registry. In the future, the

as it has over the past five years. Christiana

orthopaedic trauma section hopes to expand

Care’s four-state catchment area (Delaware,

our ability to record and track patient outcome

Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey) and

data. This data-driven approach will allow us to

proximity to Interstate 95 coupled with the fact

determine what works best—and keep us on

that more local hospitals are diverting complex

the cutting edge of delivering the most up-to-

Michael Principe, D.O.

date, evidence-based patient care to the people of our region.

Nicholas Quercetti, D.O.

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Craig Smucker, M.D.

James Zaslavsky, M.D.

CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH SYSTEM DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPAEDICS

1

CHRISTIANA HOSPITAL IS THE STATE’S ONLY LEVEL I TRAUMA CENTER

Chosen by the state of Delaware and verified by the American College of Surgeons, the Level I designation is the highest capability possible for a trauma center.

Decide to Drive When can talking on a cell phone or eating be deadly? When the person doing it is also driving a car. In the U.S. every year, distracted driving injured or killed more than half a million people.

That statistic got Orthopaedic Trauma Section Chief Eric Johnson, M.D., and Mike Uffner, owner of Delaware Cadillac, Saab, Subaru and Kia and a Christiana Care trustee, to join forces to develop a Public Service Announcement (PSA).

With the message, “Enjoy your car, and focus on your driving,” this PSA is an extension of the national campaign encouraging drivers to “decide to drive” each time they get behind the wheel.

Section Chief, Eric Johnson, M.D. Eric Johnson, M.D. is past president of the Christiana Care Medical-Dental Staff, comprised of more than 1,400 members credentialed by the Christiana Care Health System.

Dr. Johnson, orthopaedic trauma section chief since 2002, also serves as associate chief of the section of Orthopaedic Surgery and is the unit-based Eric T. Johnson, M.D.

medical director of the orthopaedic unit. He is a member of the Orthopaedic Trauma Association.

YEAR IN REVIEW | christianacare.org

7

FOOT & ANKLE

NEW SERVICE

ADVANCING KNOWLEDGE A multidisciplinary group of orthopaedic

The Foot and Ankle Section’s two orthopaedic

surgeons and podiatrists work together in

surgeons—Section Chief Paul Kupcha, M.D. and

Christiana Care’s Department of Orthopaedic

Robert Steele, M.D.—regularly meet with local

Surgery’s Foot and Ankle Section to provide

community podiatrists to discuss the literature

the best ankle and foot care in the region. The

and define best practice patient care pathways.

section works together to:

From bunions to ankle replacement, they collaborate to get the right patient to the right

> Improve foot and ankle care in Delaware. > Advance knowledge in and the practice of foot and ankle care. > Educate the broader medical and patient community about foot and ankle issues.

doctor at the right time.

The group is focused on attracting members who share the goal of providing excellent foot and ankle care for people in the region.

> Provide world-class service and support to populations at the highest risk for foot and ankle problems.

Section Chief, Paul Kupcha, M.D. Paul Kupcha, M.D., serves as chief of the foot and ankle section of the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Christiana Care Health System. Dr. Kupcha is board certified, fellowship trained and specializes in surgery of the foot and ankle, Ilizarov deformity correction and limb lengthening.

He is a member of numerous specialty organizations, including the American Medical Association, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, the American Association of Orthopaedic Foot and Paul C. Kupcha, M.D.

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Ankle Surgeons and the Delaware Society of Orthopaedic Surgeons where he served as president.

CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH SYSTEM DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPAEDICS

Former runner and aerobics teacher Laurie Beauchamp struggled with the forced inactivity imposed after surgery to reconstruct the posterior tibial tendon in her left ankle. But the end result—pain-free walking and exercising—made that struggle worthwhile.

“It was a huge surgery,” she said. “But I cannot say enough

“I can now walk for

about Dr. Kupcha and his team. … from the first phone call,

extended periods. I’m

everyone was so knowledgeable and caring, and the results

so grateful I did it.”

have been outstanding.”

Measure Your Foot, Save Your Feet One in six people in the U.S. reports foot problems; 86 percent of women, in fact, will seek medical care for foot pain sometime in their lifetime. Yet, many foot problems are preventable by wearing proper shoes.

Paul Kupcha, M.D., published a guide, “Measure Your Foot,” to help people prevent pain, deformity and possibly surgery. Available at www.christianacare.org, the guide contains helpful tips on measuring your foot, buying appropriate footwear and improving overall foot health.

Hearts to Soles Each November, Christiana Care’s Department of Orthopaedic Surgery provides new shoes, socks and foot exams at no charge to 80-100 people at the Sunday Breakfast Mission, a homeless shelter in Wilmington. The event is part of a campaign by a national organization, Our Hearts to Your Soles, whose mission is to provide those in need with shoes, socks and free foot examinations.

“We are able to do physical exams to see whether they are suffering from chronic Robert Steele, M.D. inspects feet and counsels patients at annual Hearts to Soles event.

problems (such as diabetes) and are able to follow up with them,” said Paul Kupcha, M.D., who has been volunteering with the organization for five years.

YEAR IN REVIEW | christianacare.org

9

SPINE

NATIONAL LEADER

MULTIDISCIPLINARY CARE

2,400 THE NUMBER OF SPINAL SURGERIES AT CHRISTIANA CARE EACH YEAR

Christiana Care’s spine service is one of the

“23-hour admits,” meaning they are able to

busiest in the nation. The service’s 14 doctors—

go home the day of or day after surgery. In

orthopaedic and neurosurgeons—see a wide

the coming years, the service will continue to

variety of cases and provide coordinated,

expand the focus on motion preservation, with

multidisciplinary care.

spinal reconstructive surgery becoming the

The section is headed by Rush Fisher, M.D who works in partnership with neurosurgery section

With an environment that encourages

chief Pawan Rastogi, M.D.

educated experimentation, the section has

The orthopaedic spine surgeons and neurosurgeons work together to refine patient protocols and outcomes evaluation. Pre-surgical education by Christiana Care nurses coupled with post-operative stays on the 7E spine surgery unit have dramatically improved patient outcomes and satisfaction scores.

All of the section’s surgeons are fellowshiptrained. This expertise has allowed the spine section to dramatically increase the volume of minimally invasive procedures. The resulting smaller incisions have led to faster recovery times and a corresponding drop in hospital length of stay. Most patients are now

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standard of care rather than disc fusion.

CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH SYSTEM DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPAEDICS

recorded 15 years of steady performance improvement and better patient outcomes. The section is now working to examine that data in a more systematic fashion, capturing five years of spine surgery outcomes in the national SpineTango system and assembling the largest data set for lumbar and cervical disc outcomes outside of Europe.

For four long years, Wayne Johnson, 45, suffered with severe back pain, the result of a badly deteriorated disc.

His orthopedic surgeon, Rush Fisher, M.D., recommended a total disc replacement or TDR, in which the damaged disc is removed and replaced with an artificial disc.

A newer treatment, TDR helps patients regain their range

“I feel very fortunate

of motion and get relief from pain. Within a day of surgery,

that Christiana Care

Johnson was out of bed and taking his first steps toward

offers this kind of

recovery. Today, he’s back at work and enjoying family life

advanced treatment.”

with his wife and baby. His pain is completely gone.

Blue Chip Care Christiana Care has been named a Blue Distinction Center in Spine Surgery by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Christiana Care is the only health system in Delaware with that designation. The Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care program is a national designation awarded by Blue Cross & Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality specialty care. The program expanded recently to include more robust quality measures that focus on improved patient health and safety.

Section Chief, Rush Fisher, M.D. Rush Fisher, M.D. specializes in spinal reconstructive surgery of the cervical, thoracic and lumbar spine. Dr. Fisher is committed to the collaborative effort of surgical and nonsurgical care of all spinal disorders, including degenerative, traumatic and oncologic conditions. He is board certified by the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. Dr. Fisher holds hospital appointments at both Christiana Care Health J. Rush Fisher, M.D.

System and Nemours/Alfred I. du Pont Hospital for Children.

YEAR IN REVIEW | christianacare.org

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HAND

EXPERTS ON HAND

STREAMLINING CARE Section Chief,

Christiana Care’s Section of Hand and Upper

efficiency. The section has also developed an

Douglas Patterson, M.D.

Extremity Surgery combines the talent and

agreement with the University of Pennsylvania

Douglass

experience of four plastic surgeons and five

for more seamless care of patients requiring a

Patterson,

orthopaedic hand surgeons. Collectively, the

microvascular reattachment of digits.

M.D., heads

section draws on years of training at the nation’s

the Section

most prestigious institutions; hand and upper

of Hand

extremity surgeons have honed their skills at

and Upper

academic medical centers including Johns

Extremity Surgery in the

Hopkins, Harvard, Thomas Jefferson University,

Department of Orthopaedics at

and Duke.

Christiana Care. A member of Delaware Orthopaedic Specialists, he sub-specializes in hand and upper extremity surgery. Dr. Patterson is also active in research; his work has been published in major peer-reviewed journals,

Using the latest non-operative and surgical techniques, section specialists partner with patients to care for the vast array of conditions that can affect the human hand—from carpal tunnel syndrome and arthritis to unusual tumors and severe trauma.

including The Journal of Shoulder &

Committed to collegiality and collaboration, the

Elbow Surgery, the Journal of Bone &

section has streamlined care of hand patients

Joint Surgery, Hand Clinics, and the

in Christiana Care’s emergency departments.

Journal of Hand Surgery.

By better organizing implants so that they are quickly accessible in operating rooms, the section eliminated waste and improved

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CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH SYSTEM DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPAEDICS

In less than one year, the Section has combined the previously separate efforts of plastic and orthopaedic hand surgeons and made significant changes positively affecting the delivery of care and improved patient outcomes.

The section leaders continue to educate caregivers and work to optimize the processes, implants, equipment and facilities so that Christiana Care is the model for hand care in the Mid-Atlantic region.

ORTHOPAEDIC ONCOLOGY

COMPLEX CASES

EVIDENCE-BASED CARE Under the direction of Section Chief Mihir Thacker,

Center & Research Institute and the National

Section Chief,

M.D., Christiana Care’s Orthopaedic Oncology

Community Cancer Centers Program. These

Mihir Thacker, M.D.

service provides the most current, evidence-

affiliations have brought many new patients and

Section Chief

based care close to home for patients in the four-

greatly increased the section’s volume. Increased

Mihir Thacker,

state area. Dr. Thacker, in fact, is the only specialist

volume, in turn, has built expertise—leading to

M.D. leads

in Delaware who performs orthopaedic oncology

greater efficiency, a higher standard of care and

orthopaedic

surgery for adults.

ultimately better patient outcomes. Orthopaedic

oncology at

Oncology has also created an innovative spine

Christiana

Key changes over the past few years include

tumor multidisciplinary center under the

Care Health System and Nemours/

collaboration with the Helen F. Graham Cancer

direction of Mark Eskander, M.D.

Alfred I. du Pont Hospital for Children. He completed three different fellowships in

Keith White

musculoskeletal oncology and

In September 2010, retired Boeing engineer

pediatric orthopaedics.

and avid sailor Keith White was diagnosed with a rare osteosarcoma in his arm. Because

Dr. Thacker is a member of the

of cardiac issues, he was not a candidate for

Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of

chemotherapy.

North America, the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society and the Lower Limb

After conferring with Mihir Thacker, M.D., White

Reconstruction Society. He is also

opted for an extensive procedure, removing his

involved in research, has more than

right arm, collarbone and shoulder.

30 peer-reviewed publications

Eighteen months after surgery, White was in good spirits, relatively pain free, and, best of all, is sailing again. Despite the loss of his arm, he

and has presented at several national and international scientific conferences.

describes his care as an “uplifting and reassuring” experience.

YEAR IN REVIEW | christianacare.org

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BONE HEALTH ADVISORY COMMITTEE

REDUCING FRACTURES

STRONG BONES Each year, two million Americans suffer

Based on guidelines from national osteoporosis

fragility bone fractures caused by osteoporosis.

organizations and recognized experts, Strong

Unfortunately, less than 15 percent of women

Bones’ goals are to reduce fractures in patients

over the age of 50—those most at risk—have

who are at risk by providing a fracture liaison

had a bone density test. The Christiana Care

service, coordinating bone health care and

Bone Health Advisory Committee (BHAC) is

easing the burden on the primary care providers

working to change that statistic with its Strong

by delivering focused care for bone fragility.

Bones program.

Strong Bones’ participating partners include

The BHAC is a multidisciplinary group of

physicians from women’s health, endocrinology,

physicians and care providers dedicated to

family medicine, orthopaedic surgery,

reducing the frequency of broken bones

emergency medicine, sports medicine and

by improving evaluation and treatment of

physical rehabilitation who provide their

fragility fractures and osteoporosis in Delaware.

expertise in evaluation and treatment of bone

Its innovative Strong Bones program is a

fragility. Participating practices are Christiana

comprehensive, standardized bone health

Care’s Center for Women’s Health, Christiana

program, bone health registry and fracture

Care Endocrinology Specialists, Christiana

liaison service to reduce fractures and improve

Care Sports Medicine, Delaware Orthopaedic

patient outcomes. Christiana Care BHAC

Specialists, First State Endocrinology and First

supports physicians by providing coordinated

State Orthopaedics.

bone health care within the community.

Timothy Manzone, M.D.

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Richard Derman, M.D.

CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH SYSTEM DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPAEDICS

Jim Lenhard, M.D.

David Bercaw, M.D.

Bradley Sandella, D.O.

Leila Getto, M.D.

400

The multidisciplinary Bone Health Advisory Committee created the Strong Bones program to help patients prevent

THE NUMBER OF HIP FRACTURES

CHRISTIANA CARE ORTHOPAEDIC

secondary fractures.

SURGEONS TREAT ANNUALLY

Cast Mountain Each October the Department exhibits something to illustrate the scale and pervasiveness of bone diseases. In 2012, “Cast Mountain,” came to Christiana Care to highlight the perils of bone fragility. Created by the National Bone Health Alliance and made of unused casts, the installation represents the 5,500 bone breaks that occur daily in the United States due to osteoporosis and fragile bones.

The exhibit included information on the Christiana Care Bone Health Advisory Committee’s efforts to prevent, treat and research such fractures.

Hip FIT In the United States, 50 percent of women and 25 percent of men will experience an osteoporosis-related fragility fracture in their lifetimes. Christiana Care’s Hip FIT (Fracture Intervention Team), a multidisciplinary team led by the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, is looking to reduce that statistic in Delaware over the next decade.

Hip FIT seeks to increase awareness of fragility fracture risk factors so that more people are screened. Once a fracture occurs, Hip FIT works to coordinate treatment services and communication among health care providers to get patients back to their previous level of activity more quickly and prevent future injuries.

Own the Bone Christiana Care participates in Own the Bone, a national registry of fragile bone incidents and treatments, in two significant ways. First, Christiana Care contributes data to the registry, compiled by the American Orthopaedic Association, to help teach primary care physicians and specialists about the risks of fragile bone fractures, and ways to treat them post-accident.

Second, our chair of orthopaedic surgery, Brian Galinat, M.D., MBA, also serves on the American Orthopaedic Association’s Own the Bone Committee. He is the only community-hospitalbased physician in the group, which includes clinical and scientific researchers from top academic centers throughout the United States.

YEAR IN REVIEW | christianacare.org

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ORTHOPAEDIC EDUCATION

7

YEARS HOSTING THE DELAWARE ORTHOPAEDIC SYMPOSIUM

The Delaware Orthopaedic Symposium has sold out every year and become the pre-eminent orthopaedic education event the region.

Knowledge Sharing Christiana Care’s Delaware Orthopaedic Symposium is the state’s premier orthopaedic education event. More than 250 people regularly attend the annual event, held in October, to learn from internationally known speakers in orthopaedic surgery, trauma and physical therapy. Participants benefit from several educational tracks, a live anatomical dissection and poster presentations.

This conference disseminates the latest advancements in musculoskeletal health and orthopaedic surgery to orthopaedic surgeons, primary care physicians, orthopaedic physician assistants, physical therapists and other health care professionals throughout the region.

Section Chief, Randeep Kahlon, M.D. Orthopaedic surgeon Randeep Kahlon, M.D., leads orthopaedic education efforts for Christiana Care. Specializing in surgery of the hand and upper extremity, Dr. Kahlon is a partner with First State Orthopaedics. He has served as associate director with Christiana Care’s Orthopaedic Trauma Service, past board member of the Delaware Health Information Network (DHIN), past president of the Medical Society of Delaware and currently serves on the board of Christiana Randeep Kahlon, M.D.

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Care Quality Partners.

CHRISTIANA CARE HEALTH SYSTEM DEPARTMENT OF ORTHOPAEDICS

The Department of Orthopaedic Surgery is committed to continuous, lifelong education: for the region’s consumers, primary care physicians and allied health providers—as well as those working for Christiana Care.

Under the direction of Randeep Kahlon, M.D., the department’s education section hosts the Delaware Orthopaedic Symposium as well as orthopaedic surgery education lectures with the Christiana Care emergency department, state professional associations for primary care physicians and nurses, and individual talks with primary care physicians.

Community Outreach Department staff and surgeons participate in local, regional and national campaigns to raise awareness about bone and joint health.

They collaborated with local YMCA branches and a major local car dealership to participate in “Stop Sports Injuries” and “Decide to Drive,” two national campaigns to end bone and joint damage caused by repetitive sports injury and distracted driving. It hosted Cast Mountain, an art installation highlighting the perils of bone fragility.

The department offers consumers a free online joint assessment and hosts free seminars, “Move Freely without Pain” about joint replacement and “Garden for Life” which offers tips on best-practices for gardeners to protect their hips, knees and back. The section was also instrumental in revitalizing the local Arthritis Foundation chapter, creating an event to raise funds and recognize pioneers in improving bone and joint care in Delaware.

Orthopaedic Education The orthopaedic education program at Christiana Care extends beyond the surgeons. Christiana Care orthopaedic surgeons share the latest research in their individual specials with patients and other clinicians. The department convenes a monthly bone fracture conference for emergency department residents, manages a sports medicine fellowship and holds lecture series and clinics for nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses and therapists.

For more information, contact: Christiana Care Health System P.O. Box 1668 Wilmington, DE 19899-1668 302-733-5967 | www.christianacare.org

Christiana Care is a private not-for-profit regional health care system and relies in part on the generosity of individuals, foundations and corporations to fulfill its mission. To learn more about how you can support our mission, please visit christianacare.org/donors.

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