News and Announcements

Commonwealth Orthopaedics Achieves MGMA ‘Better Performer’ Status

The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) Performance and Practices of Successful Medical Groups: 2007 Report Based on 2006 Data identified Commonwealth Orthopaedics as a “better performer” because of superior operational performance compared with similar medical group practices nationwide.

About MGMA
MGMA, founded in 1926, is the nation's principal voice for medical group practice. MGMA's more than 21,500 members manage and lead 13,500 organizations, in which more than 270,000 physicians practice. MGMA's core purpose is to improve the effectiveness of medical group practices and the knowledge and skills of the individuals who manage and lead them. MGMA headquarters are in Englewood, Colo. Please visit http://www.mgma.com.

 

Surgical Skills Lab a Success

Physicians, orthopaedic residents and health care professionals from around the Washington area gathered to learn the latest techniques in arthroscopic shoulder repair and reconstruction at Commonwealth Orthopaedics’ fifth Surgical Skills Lab last November. Five Commonwealth physicians who specialize in sports medicine and arthroscopic shoulder surgery served as instructors and mentors to a group that included  Commonwealth surgeons and physical therapists, Georgetown University Medical School residents and a small number of outside physicians.  

“We’ve made tremendous inroads in shoulder arthroscopy in the last ten years, including advances in techniques and equipment that have steadily improved outcomes, and we want to share this with the medical community,” says George Aguiar, MD, one of the presenting physicians. “The lab is an excellent forum to exchange information and ideas, review outcomes and techniques, and give everyone the opportunity for some hands-on training.”

The lab featured lectures and instruction, with Commonwealth surgeons using cadavers to demonstrate the latest shoulder arthroscopy advancements in arthroscopic SLAP, Bankart and rotator cuff repairs.    

“The presenting physicians come from a generation of orthopaedic surgeons trained from residency in these arthroscopic techniques,” says Susan Kenney, Nurse manager for  Commonwealth Orthopaedics Surgical Suite. “In the lab setting, the step by step technique is reviewed for these routine arthroscopic procedures.” 

For the first time, Commonwealth Orthopaedics’ physical therapists were invited to participate.  “Physical therapy is a key component to the success of any surgery, so we wanted to give them a bird’s-eye view of how these procedures are done and how they impact a patient’s rehabilitation,” Dr. Aguiar explains. 

This was also the first time outside surgeons attended the lab, and Dr. Aguiar hopes to invite more of them in the future.  Commonwealth also plans to expand the labs to include advances in minimally invasive knee surgery, cartilage restoration and transplantation, joint resurfacing techniques, and unilateral knee and total joint replacement.

“These labs have tremendous benefit on so many levels,” says Kenney.  “The surgeons have the rare opportunity to ‘show and tell,’ while also getting valuable feedback from their professional peer group. The orthopaedic residents get hands-on practice, step-by-step instruction and explanation allowing them to become more comfortable performing these procedures.  Finally, our Commonwealth patients can expect the best possible surgical outcomes provided  with cutting-edge technology and advanced surgical skills of our physicians.”