Nowhere is efficiency more important than in the practice of medicine. Orthopaedists at the Andrews Sports Medicine & Orthopaedic Center have embraced that philosophy through specialty care in its Hip Center.
Physicians at The Hip Center at Andrews Sports Medicine have embraced a comprehensive hip care concept where treatment is specialized for each patient. The treatment approach recognizes the variety of disorders, the diversity of the patient population, and the full spectrum of contemporary treatment options.
"There is a shift from general orthopaedic care, where one doctor takes care of all problems, to a more specialized model. Our vision was to create a concept that provides ultra-specialty care for our patients," says Benton Emblom, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon at The Hip Center at Andrews Sports Medicine. "We use a team approach to see patients, evaluate them, and treat them appropriately in a streamlined fashion."
The Hip Center physicians' priority is to establish an accurate diagnosis and to develop treatment plans that are customized to the diagnosis and precise needs of each patient. The physicians treat specific disorders which allows for specialized care.
"Our group reached a mutual understanding that has made this concept workable," Emblom says. "It is a one-stop shop for the hip that allows us to be more efficient and to foster superior outcomes."
Team members have the expertise to diagnose and deliver the full spectrum of both non-surgical and surgical solutions for hip injuries, disorders, and disease.
"Hip disorders are classified in two categories -non-arthritic/hip preservation and arthritic," Emblom says. "We want to foster a super specialty organization with the utmost experience in specific hip problems. We don't want to be 'just a hip guy.'
Drs. Benton Emblom and Michael Ryan concentrate their practice on non-arthritic/preservation hip injuries, disorders and diseases, while Drs. Jeffrey Davis, James Flanagan and David Moore focus on the arthritic hip, which is much more prevalent in the older population.
"Arthroscopy has been a great tool for non-arthritic hip problems and soft tissue injuries around the hip. The procedure is geared toward young, active patients, and we repair the problem to prevent progression of arthritis. With the improvement of MRI scanning and arthroscopic surgery, we have been able to identify the disabling sources of hip pain that has gone untreated for so long."
David Moore, MD, and patient discuss treatment options for her arthritic-hip disorder.
David Moore, MD, an orthopaedic surgeon and joint replacement specialist at the Hip Center, says he recognizes the value of the continuum of care concept and believes it provides for successful treatment of hip problems. "With the expertise and technology available to us, we can encompass the entire spectrum for hip disorders. At the end of the day, however, we are going to deliver thoughtful, cutting-edge care no matter the problem," he says.
The center's technology helps physicians to deliver state-of-the-art care. In August 2017, Andrews surgeons began utilizing Stryker's Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted technology with hip replacement surgery. The system employs robotic technology that transforms the way joint replacement surgery is performed. It enables surgeons to have a more predictable surgical experience with increased accuracy.
"Leg lengths can be uneven after hip replacement surgery, because we don't have a precise way to measure the leg while the patient is asleep. The Mako technology allows us to place implants more quickly and precisely with the robotic arm, and it gives us the right fit every time," Moore says.
Moore has been doing hip replacements for over 22 years, and he says the Mako technology is the biggest improvement in hip replacement surgery he has seen. "It is great for surgery, because we have more confidence that we will be accurate with every patient," he says. "Our goal is for our patients to be happy with their surgery and that it lasts as long as possible."
With the continuum of care treatment model and state-of-the-art technology, physicians at The Hip Center at Andrews Sports Medicine are poised to provide high-tech care to patients. "I use an analogy to explain," Emblom says. "You don't take a Toyota to a Chevrolet dealership for service. Chevrolet doesn't have the parts or experience needed to make the repairs. The Toyota dealership will have the parts and the experience and will do it faster and better. Orthopaedics has the same concept. In our hip center, we can save time and get better outcomes. That's the ultimate goal."
