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Massachusetts General Hospital |
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| Harry
E. Rubash, MD |
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So far so good! As my second year draws to an end, this annual report gives me an opportunity to reflect upon the year and the significant accomplishments in the Orthopaedics Department at the Massachusetts General Hospital.
New
Practice Model
We have made significant progress with our new practice model. At each
of our three clinical sites, a task oriented staff model has been instituted
to replace the individual practice silos of the past. Through the use
of combined surgical and test scheduling, academic support services, and
nurse practitioners and physician assistants we have improved efficiencies.
The next major step will be to develop a telephone system to route calls
and schedule patient visits seamlessly and efficient-ly. As inadequate
phone systems continue to plague most practices, we hope to have a new
phone system in operation by mid-year 2000.
We welcome Mr. David Gaynor, our new administrative director. David plays a pivotal role in implementing changes to improve efficiency in the department. David's experience as administrator in the Partners Department of Radiology and CEO of a local medical imaging company prepare him well to position us for the demands of the future. David's innovation and attention to detail are greatly appreciated and I look forward to his many positive contributions.
Working with the Massachusetts General Physicians Organization (MGPO), we now have control over our complete revenue cycle that has led to significant improvements in our financial performance. Tom Amerault, the new director of the Orthopaedic Billing Office, has worked with Rosalie Martin, Administrative Director for Finance, and the administrative team to create a new monthly physician report that offers a more comprehensive look at practice trends and finances. The billing office will be moving to a new location in the spring, which will offer more space and greatly improved facilities. Congratulations to Tom, Rosalie, and the members of the MGO Billing Office!
Last year I reported that the clinical volume at the MGH had plateaued. After a series of strategic moves and additional staff recruitment, I am pleased to report that our clinical activ-ities have grown. We have relocated some examination rooms, correlated M.D. schedules, and have increased our capacity for patients in all practice locations. In addition, we have relocated the chief residents' offices in the ACC 525 area and have finished reconstruction on the POB physicians' office building area that houses the shoulder service. Dr. Pedlow has moved to a new practice area on the ACC area and has opened the MGH Spine Center. In addition, the hand fellows have relocat-ed their offices greatly expanding our capacity in the hand and upper extremity unit. Dr. Mark Vrahas, the new Partners Chief of Orthopaedic Trauma, has opened his office on 525 ACC and has firmly established the MGH orthopaedic trauma service in the ACC area. The Foot and Ankle Service has moved to a new office location recently vacated by Dr. Boyd. This larger space will accommodate all administrative and research functions for the Foot and Ankle Service and will be shared with Dr. James Heckman who will be seeing patients and operating approxi-mately one day per week at the MGH. Further expansion of the Foot and Ankle Service is anticipated.
The continued reorganization
of our clinical space as well as the additional strategic recruitment
will continue to position us formidably in the very competitive New England
market. We all greatly anticipate the new Partners Department of Orthopaedic
Surgery brochure, which will highlight the sur-geons and subspecialties
at the Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women's Hospital.
