Press Release: Joint Center for Joints and More: New Combined Care Center Offers Patients Easy Access in Harborview

Partnership Offers Patients Primary Care, Orthopaedic Care and Outpatient Surgery Under One Roof

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 10, 2018

Norfolk, VA – Next year, a new type of health care center opens in Harborview – one that integrated patient feedback for more services, easier access and better care coordination. Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center is already established in the area, and will join with Bayview Physicians Group, a multi-specialty practice.

“This joint venture with Bayview medical physicians is unique, we’ve teamed up to build a medical building where Bayview will be on the first floor, second – sports med / ortho and the ambulatory surgery center will be on the third floor. This benefits patients with a one stop location, for primary care, women’s health and other specialties, with referrals to go right upstairs to see pain, ortho and spine specialists,” said Todd Rauchenberger, SMOC Administrator.

For patients, this convenience may be a time-saver, to reduce time wasted travelling between doctor’s offices, waiting for referrals or absorbing the time-consuming pre- and post-surgical lag time at an acute care hospital. Ambulatory surgery centers offer lower cost care, without overnight stays. With everything under one roof, coordinating care between primary care, specialists and surgeons is more convenient. The ambulatory surgery center will include general surgery as well as orthopaedic surgery.

“Our patients will see a number of benefits from this partnership,” Sandy Oliver, VP and COO of Bayview Physicians Group. “This three story, 42,000 square foot building will offer patients in the North Suffolk market easy access to obstetrics and gynecologic care, gastrointestinal services, ear, nose and throat care, cardiology and pulmonary specialties, as well as the orthopaedic and surgical services offered by SMOC on site.”

Modern orthopaedics has shifted to a model where patients begin moving their joints as soon as possible, because it leads to better mobility in the long-term and better recovery from the surgery. Patients will see many benefits from the new center, including cost savings, efficient delivery of medical care and more coordinated services.

SMOC and Bayview Physicians Group are independent practices, which allow them to be responsive to patients’ needs, and to innovate quickly.

“Doctors are entrepreneurial, and want to practice and see patients the way they want. We have a business model set so that we can grow our business, accommodate physicians and move quickly when we hear the needs of the marketplace, specifically the concerns of patients,” said Rauchenberger.

This adaptability can be seen in the design of their new facilities, including this new building, which is both visually pleasing and efficient. It uses a pods style with wide, open hallways and rounded corridors designed to accommodate people dealing with mobility challenges (such as recent joint surgery) and staff efficiency.

“We designed it around the doctors’ workflow–no running up and down hallways—everything is very central. That adds some efficiency, so patient wait time and transportation time is decreased – so the doctor can be with the patient more,” Rauchenberger said.

Technology plays a role in the innovation as well, including digital medical records and more.

“We also digitized all of our radiology services – if a patient gets X-Rays or images taken, by the time they get back to the exam room, the image is already there. In just seconds, the doctor can look at it, and pull up on screen in the room, to discuss with the patient. There’s virtually no waiting for diagnostics to come back from the lab,” he said.

Technology helps facilitate care, but building design can amplify care coordination by putting all the providers near each other. Rauchenberger explains the “circulation area” for the doctors, a layout that puts physicians out of the main patient traffic flow.

“This allows doctors to communicate with fellow physicians smoothly and quickly. This can be significant when for example, the total joint physician realizes that it’s really a hand or elbow issue, and can talk immediately with that specialist. Doctors can circulate quickly from one side to the other without delays from leaving messages or sending over paperwork,” Rauchenberger said.

All of these changes for the SMOC practice are built on the foundation of expertise, serviced by over 120 physicians, physician assistants physical and occupational therapist and employees.

Tours, interviews and additional renderings can be obtained by contacting Rachel Boas, at rwilson@smoc-pt.com

SMOC has been providing quality orthopaedic services to southeastern Virginia for more than 33 years. Each member of this highly distinguished practice is fellowship-trained in their respective areas of expertise and participates in the activities of numerous prestigious medical associations. SMOC, Sports Medicine & Orthopedic Center, Inc. was founded in 1984 and today includes specialty-trained orthopaedic, spine and pain medicine physicians, specialty trained physician assistants and physical and occupational therapists specializing in orthopaedic services, joint care and pain medicine.