Hartford Business Journal

26 Hartford Business Journal • December 23, 2019 • www.HartfordBusiness.com upper and lower extremity fracture repairs, reconstructive and restorative arthroscopic shoulder procedures, arthroscopic hip procedures and will have the capability to support full joint replacement surgeries and provide our spine patients with optimal outpatient surgical services. Additionally, the center will be home to our world-class team of anesthesiologists, who lead the industry in pain management services and procedures. "It's taken 4 years form the concept to the opening," said Dr. Joyce, standing in the nearly completed lobby of the center. He compared the journey to that of having a child, "The same way you prepare and build up to the birth of your child, then the work really begins when they are born and you just never stop worrying or thinking about them. It's the same with this building and this process. We, the roughly 20 surgeons who are co-owners, are so deeply involved, and we are very excited to bring this cutting edge facility to the community. They won't be disappointed!" From the front door to its reception area, to the patient intake area, to the operating suites, recovery area, and beyond, the Lighthouse Surgery Center boasts tranquility and streamlined flow. Artwork, specially created for the facility, ties together the touches of aquamarine and teal blues, making patients feel they've stepped into a modern day seaside boutique and reinforce the highly New England-based name, "Lighthouse." For patients, thoughtful, detailed touches are tangible in every aspect of the facility with ease of patient parking, pre-and post-surgical physical therapy services located onsite, and a specified exit for post-operative patients, located directly off the physical therapy wing, to allow for a smooth transition out to the car. For the medical providers, features include six operating suites fully equip to meet the demand of complex, highly specialized spine, full joint replacement, or other orthopedic-related procedures, as well as a centralized sterilization areas, very different from traditional outpatient surgery centers. "The Lighthouse Surgery Center has an equipment management and sterilization process that has the same robust features as a large hospital, which allows us to have the optimal level of safety that is on par with Saint Francis," said Dr. Joyce. "Safety was also at the forefront of the conversation when it came to location. We wanted this location, next to Saint Francis, in order to be fully prepared for the unexpected. If there ever becomes a need to transfer a patient to an acute, inpatient facility, one of the best in the state is a located just a step away." Innovating into the Future of Care: To innovate is to move the dial forward and create the highest quality outcome for patients. That remains the objective of the Spine Institute of Connecticut at Saint Francis as they match the latest in surgical technology with their forward-thinking programs. The institute specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of congenital, acute, and chronic spinal disorders and provides innovative care for patients who suffer from spinal pain. The recent installation of their new, state-of-the-art BrainLab technology, which includes navigation, intraoperative CT scan, and a 3-D C-arm, allows for the most precision and accuracy in the placement of instrumentation during spine procedures. Ultimately, the upgraded technology keeps the institute at the forefront of offering the safest options for patients. In addition to the latest technology, the Spine Institute of Connecticut has launched a new Comprehensive Spine Program, aimed at providing a multidisciplinary approach to spine care. "While we offer the best in spine surgical options for patients, the goal is always to avoid surgery when possible," said Maureen Geary program manager, orthopedic service line at Saint Francis. "When we have patients with more complex cases, in which the traditional modalities aren't proving effective, our new Comprehensive Spine Program allows all the key players— surgeons, physical therapist, physiatrists, social workers, nurses— to come together under one umbrella for a comprehensive approach to that patient's care." The key stakeholders convene on a weekly basis to collaboratively discuss the patient's care plan, one at a time, allowing the group to focus on the big picture and streamline and individualize the patient's treatment. "This is a unique approach, one in which we feel we are leaders both regionally and nationally," Geary added. "These patients often receive excessive or unnecessary diagnostic testing during frequent emergency room visits, but this program will keep them under the care of our team, who will cross-strategize on testing, diagnostics, and treatment plans, ultimately reducing costs." The program begins with expedited care, in which patients are initially connected to a navigator, who remains with them for the entirety of their experience. The goals are to improve access, reduce wait times for appointments, coordinate care, and improve the quality of life for these patients through non-surgical management of their pain and spinal dysfunction. SPONSORED CONTENT (Top) Lighthouse Surgery Center's lobby and patient reception area. (Bottom) Lighthouse Surgery Center's central sterilization area.

• Cover