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Upstate earns designation as Center of Excellence for Hip & Knee Replacement

Upstate earns designation as Center of Excellence for Hip & Knee Replacement

SYRACUSE, N.Y.-- Upstate University Hospital is the first hospital in New York state to receive designation as a Center of Excellence for Hip & Knee Replacement by DNV GL-Healthcare, a national hospital-accrediting agency.

The Hip & Knee Replacement Certification program recognizes excellence in orthopedic surgery within the scope of hip and knee replacement and related procedures. The certification refers to the orthopedic service located on the Community Campus, where the hip and knee replacement surgeries are performed.

To earn the Hip & Knee Replacement designation for excellence, DNV surveyors performed a rigorous on-site review of the facility, examining patient records, patient outcomes, interviewed staff and visited surgery and imaging locations as well as other patient care areas. The survey ensures that Upstate’s Community Campus is compliant with “best practice” standards.

“In achieving the DNV certification for excellence in hip and knee replacement, Upstate University Hospital’s Community Campus demonstrates its commitment to ensuring the best in care for patients undergoing this type of surgery,” said Nancy Daoust, chief administrative officer for the Community Campus. “Earning this recognition was truly a team effort, from physicians to nurses, to therapists and members of administration.”

John McCabe, MD, chief executive officer of Upstate University Hospital, said the recognition is especially noteworthy for patients.

“This designation tells patients that this facility complies with the highest standards for hip and knee replacement surgery, as presented by DNV and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons,” he said. “This is a voluntary process that the Community Campus undertook to ensure that it offers the highest standards of care for this popular surgery. I am grateful to all who contributed to this outstanding achievement.”

Robert Sherman, M.D., assistant professor of orthopedic surgery, who performs hip and knee replacement surgery at the Community Campus, extended thanks to his colleagues and others who help the Community Campus earn the certification.

"This designation is a complement to the entire staff at Upstate University Hospital’s Community Campus. Every employee--physicians, nurses, surgical technicians, radiology technicians and the extensive support staff--works together to ensure a good experience for patients,” he said. “This leads to more satisfaction, better outcomes and fewer complications.

“We are very proud that the DNV has recognized the hard work and the excellent care that we provide here in Syracuse. Patient’s should understand that this designation reflects the excellent care that they receive while undergoing treatment for hip and knee replacement,” Sherman concluded.

Hip and knee replacements are among the most popular surgeries performed today, and are expected to be in demand even more in coming years, according to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

More than 371,000 total hip replacements were performed in 2014; that’s an increase of nearly 30 percent since 2010, when 291,994 were performed. Total knee replacement procedures in 2014 numbered 680,886, up 7.5 percent since 2010.

Board-certified orthopedic surgeons at Upstate specializing in hip and knee replacement surgery are Emil Azer, MD; Todd Battaglia, MD; Timothy Damron, MD; and Robert Sherman, MD. Lucien Catania, MD, is the board-certified anesthesiologist for the team.

Much of the hip and knee surgery today at the Community Campus is done with the assistance of MAKO Robotic Arm Technology. The tool is used for hip and partial knee replacement and provides physicians with greater accuracy in positioning and placement of surgical implants. The tool is used to replace hips in people suffering from degenerative joint disease, or knee damage caused by osteoarthritis.  For more information on MAKO at Upstate, go to: http://www.upstate.edu/community/services/ortho/mako.php

DNV is the same organization that has certified Upstate University Hospital as a Comprehensive Stroke Center.  Upstate remains the only hospital in the region with that designation that reflects the high level of care it offers to patients.

Caption: Robert Sherman, MD, assistant professor for orthopedic surgery who performs hip and knee replacement at the Community Campus, acknowledges the work of the operating room staff during a reception Dec. 14 to celebrate the Community Campus designation by DNV as a Center of Excellence for Hip & Knee Replacement surgery.

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