Med Center Health and Lindsey Wilson College Sign RN-to-BSN Agreement

Med Center Health and Lindsey Wilson College recently held a signing ceremony for an agreement to assist Registered Nurses in the Med Center Health family receive their BSN. The agreement allows nurses working full time to earn an accredited baccalaureate degree in three semesters through an online format, with a reduced tuition rate from Lindsey Wilson College. Additionally, one Med Center Health employee in each entering RN BSN class will receive the LWC - Med Center Health RN BSN Scholarship.

The Institute of Medicine (IOM) and the American Association of Critical Care Nurses (AACN) both recommend that nurses get their BSN within five years of earning a diploma or associate’s degree. The IOM recommends that BSN holders be increased from 50% to 80% by 2020. “This partnership is an important component of advancing patient care through increasing the educational preparation of our nursing workforce,” said Jill Payne, DNP, RN, CENP, Executive Vice President and Chief Nursing Officer of Med Center Health. “By making access easier through online learning and by making it more affordable, nurses at Med Center Health have more options to complete their bachelor’s degree. This is not only good for our nurses, but also good for patients that entrust us with their care.”

According to LWC Nursing and Health Division Chair Emiley Button, DNP, APRN-BC, the agreement marks another milestone for the continued collaboration between the college and hospitals in the region. “Med Center Health will begin serving as a key partner in our RN to BSN online program,” said Button. “The intent is to foster continuous improvement to both organizations and to provide opportunities for the collaboration and growth and the effectiveness of the hospital’s nursing staff.”

The agreement will streamline the LWC admissions and enrollment process for Med Center Health employees. For more information about the program, visit online.lindsey.edu/programs/nurn.

The Medical Center at Bowling Green Awarded Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers

The Medical Center at Bowling Green announced that it has earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association’s Heart-Check mark for Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers. The Gold Seal of Approval® and the Heart-Check mark represent symbols of quality from their respective organizations. The Medical Center was first certified in 2009 and has maintained its certification ever since.

The Medical Center underwent a rigorous onsite review in October 2017. Joint Commission experts evaluated compliance with stroke-related standards and requirements, including program management, the delivery of clinical care and performance improvement.

“The Medical Center has thoroughly demonstrated the greatest level of commitment to the care of stroke patients through its Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers,” said Patrick Phelan, executive director, Hospital Business Development, The Joint Commission. “We commend The Medical Center for becoming a leader in stroke care, potentially providing a higher standard of service for stroke patients in its community.”

“We congratulate The Medical Center for achieving this designation,” said Nancy Brown, chief executive officer, the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. “By adhering to this very specific set of treatment guidelines The Medical Center has clearly made it a priority to deliver high quality care to all patients affected by stroke.”

“The Medical Center is pleased to receive advanced certification from The Joint Commission and the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association,” said Connie Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Med Center Health. “The certification provides us with the opportunity to highlight the exceptional stroke care we provide as well as to continually strive to advance our care even further.”

Established in 2003, Advanced Certification for Primary Stroke Centers is awarded for a two-year period to Joint Commission-accredited acute care hospitals. The certification was derived from the Brain Attack Coalition’s “Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers” (JAMA, 2000) and the “Revised and Updated Recommendations for the Establishment of Primary Stroke Centers” (Stroke, 2011).

Stroke is the number four cause of death and a leading cause of adult disability in the United States, according to the American Heart Association/American Stroke Association. On average, someone suffers a stroke every 40 seconds; someone dies of a stroke every four minutes; and 795,000 people suffer a new or recurrent stroke each year.

OrthopedicsPlus Physical Therapy to Join Med Center Health

On Wednesday, August 16, the Commonwealth Health Corporation board of directors voted to acquire OrthopedicsPlus Physical Therapy, a private company with seven locations throughout Bowling Green, Brownsville, Elkton, Morgantown, Russellville and Scottsville. The transition is anticipated to occur in Fall 2017.

OrthopedicsPlus has been in existence since 2002 and provides rehabilitative services for non-operative and post-operative conditions such as neck, back and joint pain; sprains, strains and fractures; ligament and tendon repair and reconstruction; joint replacement; work-related injuries and testing; and neurologic conditions.

“Providing access to healthcare where people live and work is a key component in helping us meet our mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in our communities. This new relationship allows Med Center Health to have a physical presence in four additional counties in Kentucky,” said Connie Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Med Center Health.

Eric Hagan, Med Center Health Executive Vice President added, “The addition of OrthopedicsPlus will allow Med Center Health to enhance our existing inpatient and outpatient physical rehabilitation services and expand our sports medicine and occupational medicine programs. We are excited about this opportunity to help more people, and provide our communities even broader access to comprehensive services and medical specialists.”

OrthopedicsPlus owner Jase Pinerola, PT, DPT, ECS, SCS, LAT will join Med Center Health as Vice President of Physical Rehabilitation Services, overseeing OrthopedicsPlus, as well as the health system’s existing inpatient and outpatient physical rehabilitation locations. “Being a part of Med Center Health will give me greater opportunities to provide expanded health services for my community. Our same great staff will continue to provide an exceptional patient experience,” said Pinerola.

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Med Center Health is the flagship brand of Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC), the parent company of The Medical Center. Med Center Health has hospitals in Bowling Green, Albany, Caverna (Horse Cave), Franklin and Scottsville and operates a long-term, acute care hospital, Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital. The combined hospitals offer 454 acute care beds and 110 extended care beds. Med Center Health is one of the largest employers in Southcentral Kentucky with more than 3,500 employees. The Medical Center at Bowling Green is a 337-bed facility that has been serving patients for over 90 years offering the region’s only open heart surgery program, cancer treatment center, obstetrics and neonatology, and adult inpatient psychiatric unit, while also providing emergency medical services in Warren County.

Medical Center EMS receives American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline EMS Recognition Award

Medical Center EMS has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks.

Every year, more than 250,000 people experience an ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), the deadliest type of heart attack caused by a blockage of blood flow to the heart that requires timely treatment. To prevent death, it’s critical to restore blood flow as quickly as possible, either by mechanically opening the blocked vessel or by providing clot-busting medication.

Unfortunately, a significant number of STEMI patients don't receive this prompt reperfusion therapy, which is critical in restoring blood flow. Mission: Lifeline seeks to save lives by closing the gaps that separate these patients from timely access to appropriate treatments. Mission: Lifeline’s EMS recognition program recognizes emergency medical services for their efforts in improving systems of care and improving the quality of life for these patients.

Emergency Medical System providers are vital to the success of Mission: Lifeline. EMS agencies perform 12-lead ECGs which measure the electrical activity of the heart and can help determine if a heart attack has occurred. They also follow protocols derived from American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology guidelines. These correct tools, training, and practices allow EMS providers to rapidly identify suspected heart attack patients, promptly notify the hospital, and trigger an early response from the awaiting hospital personnel.

Agencies that receive the Mission: Lifeline Gold award have demonstrated at least 75 percent compliance for each required achievement measure for two years.

“EMTs and paramedics play a vital part in the system of care for those who have heart attacks,” said James Jollis, M.D., Chair of the Mission: Lifeline Advisory Working Group. “Since they often are the first medical point of contact, they can shave precious minutes of life-saving treatment time by activating the emergency response system that alerts hospitals. We applaud Medical Center EMS for achieving this award that shows it meets evidence-based guidelines in the treatment of people who have severe heart attacks.”

“Medical Center EMS is dedicated to making our service among the best in the country, and the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline program is helping us accomplish that by implementing processes for improving systems of care with the goal of improving the quality of care for all acute coronary syndrome patients,” said Jim Berry, Director of Medical Center EMS. “As part of Med Center Health, Medical Center EMS strives to improve the quality of life in the communities we serve. We are pleased to be recognized for our dedication and achievements in emergency medical care for all cardiac patients.”

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About Med Center Health

Med Center Health is the flagship brand of Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC), the parent company of The Medical Center. Med Center Health also has hospitals in Albany, Caverna (Horse Cave), Franklin and Scottsville and operates a long-term, acute care hospital, Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital. The combined hospitals offer 454 acute care beds and 110 extended care beds. Med Center Health is one of the largest employers in Southcentral Kentucky with more than 3,500 employees. The Medical Center at Bowling Green is a 337-bed facility that has been serving patients for over 90 years offering the region’s only open heart surgery program, cancer treatment center, obstetrics and neonatology, and adult inpatient psychiatric unit, while also providing emergency medical services in Warren County.

About Mission: Lifeline

The American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® program helps hospitals and emergency medical services develop systems of care that follow proven standards and procedures for acute coronary syndrome patients. The program works by mobilizing teams across the continuum of care to implement American Heart Association/American College of Cardiology clinical treatment guidelines. For more information, visit heart.org.

The Medical Center hosts Groundbreaking for UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus

Groundbreaking for the UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus took place Tuesday, June 6 at 10:00 a.m. at The Medical Center at Bowling Green. This four-year, regional campus medical school is the first of its kind in Kentucky and is a partnership between The Medical Center, the University of Kentucky, and Western Kentucky University.

“Through this investment in education, we are continuing to increase access to quality health care—and ensuring that we have the physicians available to take care of generations to come,” said Connie Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Med Center Health. “We have always had a commitment to bringing the best in health care to our communities. This medical school is going to raise the bar even higher as we increase opportunities for research and technology, and adhere to the latest in evidence-based practice.”

The UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus will be a fully functioning campus, utilizing the exact same curriculum and assessments as UK’s Lexington campus. On-site faculty will have UK College of Medicine appointments and teach in small groups and provide simulation/standardized patient experiences with lectures delivered on-site from Lexington utilizing educational technology. Additionally, clinical experiences will occur at The Medical Center at Bowling Green and surrounding community practices.

“At the University of Kentucky,” UK President Eli Capilouto said, “we know that working together—across disciplines and across the Commonwealth—is the best way to ensure real, positive change for those we serve. This collaboration will allow us to effectively and efficiently utilize existing resources throughout the state to meet this important need for more physicians and greater access to health care.”

“This partnership helps ensure our state will remain competitive as the landscape of health care changes,” said Dr. Robert DiPaola, Dean of the UK College of Medicine. “It also signals a new beginning in the efforts to train more physicians in Kentucky, for Kentucky, and especially a new beginning for our future students as they embark on this journey and career in medicine. It is an honor to celebrate this milestone with our partners in developing the UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus.”

Basic science and early didactic training will be taught in conjunction with faculty at WKU through both onsite classes and distance education methods in accordance with UK College of Medicine curricular protocols.

“We have been working for many years in conjunction with The Medical Center at Bowling Green to address workforce demands in health care, most recently in nursing and physical therapy, and this collaboration will address a critical need that hospitals and communities throughout our region have for more physicians,” said WKU President Gary A. Ransdell. “WKU faculty will be fully engaged, and I’m pleased that our students will have even more opportunities to pursue a medical education here in Bowling Green.”

Longtime UK faculty member and administrator Dr. Todd Cheever will serve as the first associate dean for the Bowling Green campus. Dr. Don Brown, a vascular surgeon and Bowling Green physician, who also serves as director of medical education at The Medical Center, has been named assistant dean.

The UK College of Medicine-Bowling Green Campus will be accepting 30 students per year, and will be housed in a multi-purpose building attached to a five-story parking garage constructed on the campus of The Medical Center. Construction is scheduled for completion by the summer of 2018.

Med Center Health is the flagship brand of Commonwealth Health Corporation (CHC), the parent company of The Medical Center. Med Center Health also has hospitals in Albany, Caverna (Horse Cave), Franklin and Scottsville and operates a long-term, acute care hospital, Commonwealth Regional Specialty Hospital. The combined hospitals offer 454 acute care beds and 110 extended care beds. Med Center Health is one of the largest employers in Southcentral Kentucky with more than 3,500 employees. The Medical Center at Bowling Green is a 337-bed facility that has been serving patients for over 90 years offering the region’s only open heart surgery program, cancer treatment center, obstetrics and neonatology, and adult inpatient psychiatric unit, while also providing emergency medical services in Warren County.

UK is the University for Kentucky. At UK, we are educating more students, treating more patients with complex illnesses and conducting more research and service than at any time in our 150-year history. To read more about the UK story and how you can support continued investment in your university and the Commonwealth, visit uky.edu/uk4ky. #uk4ky #seeblue

Western Kentucky University offers bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs to 20,000 students on its main campus in Bowling Green and its regional campuses in Glasgow, Elizabethtown-Fort Knox and Owensboro. WKU has undergone a 20-year transformation, during which it completed two successful capital campaigns that raised more than $300 million combined and completed nearly a billion dollars in construction, renovation and revitalization of the physical campus. As an applied research university, WKU faculty and students are engaged in public service and research with practical applications, working with communities, business and industry to solve real world problems. For more information about WKU visit wku.edu.

The Medical Center Now Offering Newest Technology in Total Knee Replacement with Stryker’s Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Total Knee Application

Innovative Robotic Technology Allows Surgeons to Personalize Procedures to Patients in Southcentral Kentucky

The Medical Center, flagship hospital of Med Center Health, is the first hospital in Southcentral Kentucky to offer Stryker’s robotic-arm assisted total knee application for use with its Mako System. This latest advancement in joint replacement surgery transforms the way total knee replacements are performed.

Total knee replacements in the United States are expected to increase 673 percent by 2030, yet studies have shown that approximately 30 percent of patients are dissatisfied after conventional surgery. Mako Total Knee combines Stryker’s advanced robotic technology with its clinically proven GetAroundKnee (Triathlon Total Knee System), which has enabled surgeons to have a more predictable surgical experience with increased accuracy during laboratory testing.

“Mako is changing the way joint replacement surgeries are performed by providing each patient with a personalized surgical experience based on their specific diagnosis and anatomy,” said Sameer Badarudeen, M.D., Orthopaedic Surgeon with Medical Center Orthopaedics. “Using a virtual 3D model, the Mako System allows surgeons to create each patient’s surgical plan pre-operatively before entering the operating room. During surgery, the surgeon can validate that plan and make any necessary adjustments while guiding the robotic-arm to execute that plan. It’s exciting to be able to offer this transformative technology across the joint replacement service line to perform total knee, total hip and partial knee replacements.”

The Mako Total Knee application is a knee replacement treatment option designed to relieve the pain caused by joint degeneration due to osteoarthritis. Through CT-based 3D modeling of bone anatomy, surgeons can use the Mako System to create a personalized surgical plan and identify the implant size, orientation and alignment based on each patient’s unique anatomy. The Mako System also enables surgeons to virtually modify the surgical plan intra-operatively and assists the surgeon in executing bone resections.

“The success of total knee replacement depends on many variables, including leg alignment, positioning of the implants and balancing the joint with proper ligament tension,” said Rasesh Desai, M.D., Orthopaedic Surgeon with Medical Center Orthopaedics. “Mako robotic-arm assisted technology is more accurate and reliable in controlling these variables compared to conventional manual surgery. The Mako system can provide real time intra-operative information on component position, alignment and ligament balance, and the surgeon has the capability of virtually changing the position of the component to achieve these goals. This system significantly improves surgical precision for knee replacement. Anyone thinking about having a knee replacement procedure should consider taking advantage of this breakthrough technology available at The Medical Center.”

“We are proud to be the first hospital to offer this highly advanced robotic technology in our area,” said Connie Smith, President and CEO of Med Center Health. “This addition to our orthopaedic service line further demonstrates our commitment to provide the community with outstanding healthcare.”

The Medical Center to Host Demonstration of New Highly-Advanced Robotic Arm Technology for Hip and Knee Replacements

The Medical Center will host a demonstration of its recent investment in the Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System on Friday, April 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in The Medical Center Auditorium. The public will have an opportunity to “test drive” the new technology.

The Medical Center is the first in Southcentral Kentucky to offer total knee, partial knee and total hip replacement procedures, performed using the Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System marketed by Stryker. The Mako system is a surgeon-controlled robotic arm system that enables accurate alignment and placement of implants. The Medical Center is one of only three hospitals in Kentucky which have invested in the Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System.

The Mako System features a patient-specific visualization system and proprietary tactile robotic arm technology that is integrated with intelligent surgical instruments. It assists surgeons in pre-planning and in treating each patient uniquely and with consistently reproducible procedure. Mako Total Knee Replacement, Partial Knee Replacement and Total Hip Replacement are performed at The Medical Center by UK Orthopaedic Surgeons Sameer Badarudeen, M.D. and Rasesh Desai, M.D. with Medical Center Orthopaedics.

Free Joint Pain Seminar Offered on April 18

Medical Center Orthopaedics will host a free Joint Pain Seminar on Tuesday, April 18 at 5:30 p.m. at The Medical Center-WKU Health Sciences Complex. UK Orthopaedic Surgeon Sameer Badarudeen, M.D. will discuss the causes of hip and knee pain and the latest treatment options available at The Medical Center, including joint replacement surgery. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

To register, visit MedCenterOrtho.com/JointPain. For questions, call Medical Center Orthopaedics at 270-780-2750. The Medical Center-WKU Health Sciences Complex is located at 700 First Avenue on The Medical Center campus.

The Medical Center at Bowling Green Receives Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation

The Medical Center at Bowling Green, flagship hospital of Med Center Health, has received full Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC). This is the fifth accreditation cycle The Medical Center has completed since 2004. Percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) is the use of cardiac catheterization to treat narrowed coronary arteries to the heart. The Medical Center is the only Chest Pain Center in Southcentral Kentucky accredited with PCI.

“The Medical Center is committed to providing the best standards of care for our patients,” said Connie Smith, President and Chief Executive Officer of Med Center Health. “Receiving the highest level of accreditation from the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care is proof of that commitment. As an accredited facility, we use state-of-the-art methods and continually seek to improve our processes and procedures.”

“The work we are doing has produced some amazing outcomes,” said Muhammad Akbar, M.D., Interventional Cardiologist with Western Kentucky Heart and Lung. “We have a dedicated team of healthcare professionals – from Medical Center EMS, Emergency Department, Cardiac Cath Lab, Nursing and various ancillary departments – who ensure our patients receive the most appropriate, evidence-based care. Together, we work tirelessly to save lives and reduce the damage from a heart attack.”

Heart attacks are the leading cause of death in the United States, with 600,000 people dying annually of heart disease. More than five million Americans visit hospitals each year with chest pain. SCPC’s goal is to significantly reduce the mortality rate of these patients by teaching the public to recognize and react to the early symptoms of a possible heart attack, reduce the time that it takes to receive treatment, and increase the accuracy and effectiveness of treatment.

An Accredited Chest Pain Center’s (CPC) evidence-based, protocol-driven and systematic approach to cardiac patient care allows clinicians to reduce time to treatment during the critical early stages of a heart attack. Accredited facilities better monitor patients when it is not initially clear whether or not a patient is having a coronary event. Such monitoring ensures patients are neither sent home too early nor needlessly admitted.

SCPC’s CPC Accreditation process came about as greater numbers of facilities in the United States sought to establish standards and adopt best practices in the quality of care provided to patients experiencing chest pain. SCPC’s CPC Accreditation process ensures that hospitals meet or exceed an array of stringent criteria and undergo a comprehensive onsite review by a team of accreditation review specialists. Hospitals that receive SCPC CPC Accreditation status have achieved a higher level of expertise in dealing with patients who present with symptoms of a heart attack. They emphasize the importance of standardized diagnostic and treatment programs that provide more efficient and effective evaluation as well as more appropriate and rapid treatment of patients with chest pain and other heart attack symptoms. They also serve as a point of entry into the healthcare system to evaluate and treat other medical problems, and they help to promote a healthier lifestyle in an attempt to reduce the risk factors for heart attack.

By achieving SCPC’s Chest Pain Center with Primary PCI Accreditation status, The Medical Center at Bowling Green demonstrates expertise in the following areas:
• Integrating the emergency department with the local emergency medical system
• Assessing, diagnosing, and treating patients quickly
• Effectively treating patients at low risk for acute coronary syndrome and no assignable cause for their symptoms
• Continually seeking to improve processes and procedures
• Ensuring the competence and training of Accredited Chest Pain Center personnel
• Maintaining organizational structure and commitment
• Constructing a functional design that promotes optimal patient care
• Supporting community outreach programs that educate the public to promptly seek medical care if they display symptoms of a possible heart attack

About The Medical Center
The Medical Center at Bowling Green is the flagship hospital for Med Center Health. Located in Bowling Green, Ky., The Medical Center is a 337-bed, full service, not-for-profit hospital specializing in heart care, cancer care, obstetrics and neonatology, neuroscience and orthopaedic services. With a mission to care for people and improve the quality of life in the communities it serves, Med Center Health contributed $80.4 million in community benefit in fiscal year 2016. Med Center Health treats patients regardless of their ability to pay and annually provides millions in community benefit through charity care for the uninsured and shortfalls in governmental reimbursements (Medicare and Medicaid). To learn more, visit www.TheMedicalCenter.org.

About the Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care
The Society of Cardiovascular Patient Care (SCPC) is an international, nonprofit organization that focuses on transforming cardiovascular care by assisting facilities in their efforts to create cardiovascular centers of excellence that deliver quality care and patient satisfaction in a cost sensitive environment. As the accreditation services arm of the American College of Cardiology, SCPC offers individual hospitals and hospital systems the support needed to effectively reduce variations of care and bridge existing gaps in treatment. Through its collaboration with actively engaged, multidisciplinary teams, SCPC is Taking Science to the Bedside™ and improving outcomes in the management of heart disease. For more information about SCPC's accreditation and certification opportunities, visit www.scpc.org, or call toll-free 1-877-271-4176.

Free Joint Pain Seminar Offered on February 21

Medical Center Orthopaedics will host a free Joint Pain Seminar on Tuesday, February 21 at 5:30 p.m. at The Medical Center-WKU Health Sciences Complex. Orthopaedic Surgeon Sameer Badarudeen, M.D. will discuss the causes of hip and knee pain and the latest treatment options available at The Medical Center, including joint replacement surgery. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

To register, visit MedCenterOrtho.com/JointPain. For questions, call Medical Center Orthopaedics at 270-780-2750. The Medical Center-WKU Health Sciences Complex is located at 700 First Avenue on The Medical Center campus.

The Medical Center Offers Hip and Knee Procedures Performed with Highly-Advanced Robotic Arm Technology

Mako™ Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery Enables a New Level of Accuracy and Reproducibility for Partial Knee and Total Hip Replacement

The Medical Center is the first in Southcentral Kentucky to offer partial knee replacement and total hip replacement procedures, performed using the Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System marketed by Stryker. The Mako system is a surgeon-controlled robotic arm system that enables accurate alignment and placement of implants. The Medical Center is the one of only three hospitals in Kentucky which have invested in the Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System.

“Accuracy is key in planning and performing both partial knee and total hip procedures,” said Rasesh Desai, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon with Medical Center Orthopaedics. “For a good outcome you need to align and position the implants just right. The Mako system enables surgeons to personalize partial knee and total hip arthroplasties to achieve optimal results at a level of accuracy and reproducibility previously unattainable with conventional instrumentation.”

The Mako System features a patient-specific visualization system and proprietary tactile robotic arm technology that is integrated with intelligent surgical instruments. It assists surgeons in pre-planning and in treating each patient uniquely and with consistently reproducible procedure.

Mako Partial Knee Replacement is a treatment option for adults living with early to mid-stage osteoarthritis that has not yet progressed to all three compartments of the knee. It is less invasive than traditional total knee surgery. A pre-surgical plan is created based on a CT scan of the patient’s own knee, and the surgeon uses the robotic arm during surgery to resurface the diseased portion of the knee, sparing healthy bone and surrounding tissue for a more natural feeling knee. An implant is then secured in the joint to allow the knee to move smoothly again.

"There is no need to replace the entire knee joint when the arthritis is only affecting a small portion of it,” said Sameer Badarudeen, M.D., an orthopaedic surgeon with Medical Center Orthopaedics. “By doing a partial knee replacement instead of total knee replacement we are able to preserve a patient’s own ligaments and avoid cutting the rest of the joint which is unaffected by arthritis. Studies have shown that partial knee replacement when compared to total knee will help patients have improved outcomes especially 'early return to activities' and a more 'natural' feeling knee than a total knee replacement. By doing the partial knee replacement with the help of the MAKO robotic-arm assisted technology, we are able to place the implants with extreme precision and accuracy which is impossible to achieve by using regular handheld instruments. This will prolong the life of these implants and improve patient outcomes."

During Mako Total Hip Replacement surgery, the Mako system provides visualization of the joint and biomechanical data to guide the bone preparation and implant positioning to match the pre-surgical plan. After first preparing the femur or thighbone, the surgeon uses the robotic arm to accurately ream and shape the acetabulum socket in the hip, and then implant the cup at the correct depth and orientation. The surgeon then implants the femoral implant. The Mako procedure offers the confidence of more accurate cup placement and accurate leg length restoration.

“We are proud to be the first to use this innovative technology in Southcentral Kentucky,” said Connie Smith, Chief Executive Officer of Med Center Health. “It is part of our commitment to provide our community with the latest advances and the very best in orthopaedic care.”

Free Joint Pain Seminar Offered on January 17

Medical Center Orthopaedics will host a free Joint Pain Seminar on Tuesday, January 17 at 5:30 p.m. at The Medical Center-WKU Health Sciences Complex. Orthopaedic Surgeon Rasesh Desai, M.D. will discuss the causes of hip and knee pain and the latest treatment options available at The Medical Center, including joint replacement surgery. The presentation will be followed by a question-and-answer session.

To register, visit MedCenterOrtho.com/JointPain. For questions, call Medical Center Orthopaedics at 270-780-2750. The Medical Center-WKU Health Sciences Complex is located at 700 First Avenue on The Medical Center campus.