New Hybrid Operating Room Opens
A new hybrid operating room at Jackson-Madison County General Hospital is bringing state-of-the-art surgical technology to rural West Tennessee. In mid-August, the hospital will open its new 1,000 square foot hybrid surgical suite designed specifically for vascular and cardiothoracic patients. The surgical suite can also be used for nearly any surgical procedure.
The new suite combines cutting edge surgical technology with the most sophisticated imaging capabilities so that it can be transformed from a minimally invasive surgery setting to a full open heart surgery operating room in minutes. The hybrid surgical suite allows for a multi-disciplinary approach to surgery so that medical specialties can work together providing safer, quicker and more efficient services. This collaboration of specialists improves the level of advanced care that can be provided to patients in West Tennessee.
The hybrid operating suite brings the latest technology for vascular procedures to West Tennessee and increases access to advanced vascular procedures for patients according to Dr. Heath Broussard, a vascular surgeon with the Jackson Clinic, who was a member of the planning and development team. Having the advanced imaging technology in a large operating suite that will accommodate increasingly complex multispecialty procedures will not only increase access for patients but also allows for the growth of multidisciplinary procedures that require a large operating team such as transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR).
The surgical suite is twice the size of a regular operating room and can accommodate up to 25 medical personnel.
The hybrid surgical suite which opened in August, makes JMCGH one of only two hospitals in the country using the latest imaging technology from Philips Healthcare. The interventional lab provides high quality imaging with low x-ray dose levels for patients. The fully digital system enables physicians to capture and view detailed three-dimensional images of a patient’s arteries and vascular structure, facilitating faster and more accurate diagnosis and treatment.
The suite is taller than a regular operating room to accommodate the infrastructure required to support the weight of the equipment, which is mounted on a grid system in the ceiling. The suite is one of only twelve in the country that use a wide-track ceiling design to mount the equipment said Steve Austin, JMCGH Manager Surgical Support Services.
The hybrid OR utilizes FlexMove, a ceiling-mounted system designed to optimize workflow for its X-ray system and other equipment. With FlexMove, the imaging system can be moved laterally and longitudinally to perform a wide range of procedures without interfering with the care provided by other team members in the room. FlexMove allows the equipment to be in stand-by position for optimal access to the patient. The X-ray equipment can be moved quickly into place when needed or parked out of the way when not needed.
The suite is suited for a variety of specialized surgeries including vascular and cardiovascular, as well as robotic procedures and procedures that require advanced imaging which interventional radiologists and cardiologists perform. As the technology is evolving rapidly, Hampton expects to see other specialties begin to use the new lesser invasive technology for their procedures.
The high-tech operating suite required tremendous support and commitment on behalf of West Tennessee Healthcare. The cost of the suite, its construction, equipment and technology required a $4.2 million investment according to Tina Prescott, West Tennessee Healthcare Vice President/Chief Nursing Officer.
Bone and Joint Specialists Merge with West Tennessee Bone & Joint Clinic, P.C.
Dr. Blake Chandler recently announced the merger of Bone and Joint Specialists (BJS) of Paris and Union City with West Tennessee Bone and Joint Clinic (WTBJC) of Jackson, Tennessee.
With similar organizational cultures and commitments to excellent patient care, the groups share a long standing history of mutual respect for one another. Recent changes in health care led to conversations about the benefits of merging practices and becoming one. The new organization will combine more than 14 Specialists and providers in 10 locations throughout West Tennessee.
Aside from improved technology, Chandler emphasized that little about his practice will change. He will continue to see patients in the same office locations in Paris and Union City, and the same, skilled staff will remain in place, including nurse practitioner Clay Nolen. In addition, Chandler will continue to operate at Henry County Medical Center and the Surgery Center in Paris. He and his staff will continue to provide their “signature hometown care.”
Chip Anderson, Practice Administrator, Bone & Joint Specialists emphasized that the clinic plans to address many aspects of this new affiliation including operational details, brand and marketing consolidation to strengthen the overall commitment to orthopedic excellence for the West Tennessee communities.
JMCGH Receives National Recognition Through Tennessee Surgical Quality Collaborative
Jackson – Jackson-Madison County General Hospital (JMCGH) has been nationally recognized for its participation in the Tennessee Surgical Quality Collaborative (TSQC), which has reduced surgical complications by 19.7 percent since 2009. This reduction represents at least 533 lives saved and $75.2 million in reduced costs in Tennessee.
The recognition of JMCGH came as part of a presentation at the American College of Surgeons (ACS) National Surgical Quality Collaborative Improvement Program’s (NSQIP) national conference in New York City on July 28.
The hospital collaborative formed in 2008 as a partnership of the Tennessee Chapter of the American College of Surgeons and the Tennessee Hospital Association’s Tennessee Center for Patient Safety, with support from the Tennessee Health Foundation, the philanthropic arm of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.
An earlier study based on TSQC data published in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons in 2012 showed the 10 TSQC members reduced complication rates and saved more than $8 million in excess costs from 2009 to 2010. This new study shows TSQC hospitals continued to improve in the years after the program launched. In 2012, the collaborative expanded and now includes 22 Tennessee hospitals.
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