Kaplan Joint Center Receives Honors and Accolades

Blue Distinction Award for Knee/Hip Replacement
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts recently recognized Newton-Wellesley Hospital with a Blue Distinction® Designation for demonstrating reliability in delivering knee/hip replacement with better overall outcomes for patients. Blue Distinction is a nationwide program that recognizes medical facilities that meet a national set of objective, evidence-based thresholds for clinical quality.

This designation indicates to patients and their physicians that Newton-Wellesley met objective, evidence-based selection criteria that demonstrate reliability in delivering knee/hip replacement, with better overall outcomes for patients. As a Blue Distinction Center for Knee and Hip Replacement, Newton-Wellesley offers comprehensive inpatient knee and hip replacement services (including total knee replacement, total hip replacement and hip resurfacing).

The Blue Distinction Centers initiative has more than 15 years of experience in working with expert physicians and medical organizations to help consumers find quality specialty care while encouraging health care professionals to improve the overall quality and delivery of care. The evidence-based selection criteria, which require the demonstration of reliability in delivering knee and hip replacement services and achievement of better overall outcomes, were developed with expert physicians and medical organization input and include a comprehensive evaluation of structure, process and outcome measures.

Advanced Research at the Kaplan Joint Center
As the number of joint replacement surgeries increases, surgeons in the Center for Joint Reconstruction Surgery at Newton-Wellesley Hospital continue to be involved in advanced research in the field. Hany S. Bedair, MD, recently won a national award for his research on joint infections. He was awarded the Mark Coventry Award from the Knee Society for his research on detecting infections earlier in joint replacement patients.

“One of the most common reasons joint replacements fail is due to infection,” says Dr. Bedair. “If an infection can be diagnosed earlier, within the first three to four weeks after surgery, the treatment and recovery is much easier for patients. Our goal is to be able to predict the chance of infection at an earlier stage to ultimately, improve the longevity of the patient’s joint replacement.”

The Joint Center is now using the results of this research to test patients earlier for infection by analyzing fluid taken from the surgery site. Joint replacement surgery numbers are projected to continue to grow as more patients look to this option for relief from their pain. The Joint Center team will continue to strive to offer patients and their families a better quality of life and relief from living in discomfort.

State-of-the-Art Technology and Procedures
The Center offers surgical options for patients with joint pain. Some of the orthopaedic disorders treated include:

• degenerative joint disease
• cartilage and labral injury
• joint malalignment
• ligament and tendon tears

The Joint Center team provides conservative muscle and bone-sparing techniques and new, improved pain management methods that result in easier, faster recovery from joint repair and replacement. Surgeons offer arthroscopy - a minimally invasive procedure - as an alternative to open surgery. Arthroscopy involves smaller incisions and decreased recovery time. Various other minimally invasive surgical techniques are used to provide more outpatient procedures, shorter inpatient stays and faster return to regular activities.

The Hospital also offers 24-hour emergency services at the Maxwell Blum Emergency Pavilion to care for orthopaedic injuries and conditions. The Pavilion has its own Radiology Imaging Suite which includes two digital X-ray rooms and a 64-slice CT scanner.

A Multidisciplinary Approach
Patients also have access to a full range of diagnostic and therapeutic technology and treatment options from physicians with significant expertise in the field of orthopaedics. Surgeons at the Center work with multidisciplinary support teams at Newton-Wellesley including Radiology, Rehabilitation Services, Physical Therapy, Infectious Disease, Physiatry, Intensivists and Hospitalists to effectively and efficiently provide high-quality care.

For more information about the Center for Joint Reconstruction Surgery at Newton-Wellesley Hospital, call CareFinder at 1-866-NWH-DOCS (694-3627) or visit our website at www.nwh.org/jointcenter.

Hany S. Bedair, MD Surgeon, Joint Center Newton-Wellesley Hospital
Dr. Bedair is board certified in orthopaedic surgery. He received his medical degree from Yale University School of Medicine and completed his general surgical internship and residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. Dr. Bedair completed an orthopaedic adult reconstruction fellowship at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago.

Joint Center Team
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