The Orthopaedic Hospital at Sentara CarePlex, a nearly 55,000 square-foot, two-story addition to the hospital will provide patients access to the full continuum of orthopedic services from the pre-operative phase and surgery to rehabilitation and home care services. The sole focus on orthopedics at this facility lends itself to more involvement in clinical research studies.
On schedule to open early 2010, it will be the region's only dedicated orthopedic hospital.
Specialized surgical orthopedic care will be provided through board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians from the largest orthopedic group on the Peninsula, Tidewater Orthopaedic Associates. Known for sub-specialization, the group offers patients expertise in total joint replacement, hand and upper extremity care, spine surgery, shoulder surgery, sports medicine, orthopedic trauma care and orthopedic research.
Adjoining Sentara CarePlex Hospital on its north side at the current York River entrance, the Orthopaedic Hospital at Sentara CarePlex will open with 18 private beds dedicated to orthopedic care. Consolidation of orthopedic services in the new addition will allow for enhancements to other hospital programs and create bed capacity within CarePlex. Patients may be admitted faster, especially those entering the hospital through one of the stateÍs busiest emergency departments, second only to InovaÍs in Northern Virginia.
Representing years of planning and an estimated $20 million investment to address increased need for orthopedic services among rapidly aging Peninsula residents, the Orthopaedic Hospital at Sentara CarePlex will be staffed by a dedicated orthopedic team of doctors, nurses, operating room staff and multidisciplinary clinicians caring exclusively for orthopedic patients. The staff will pursue specialized orthopedic credentialing, and the hospital will seek a quality orthopedic certification from
The Joint Commission, a national accrediting body for health care organizations whose designation reflects programs with superior outcomes.
Patients and their families will have access to the full complement of inpatient and outpatient orthopedic services at the Orthopaedic Hospital at Sentara CarePlex. The design reflects added convenience and easy access to services such as operating rooms and procedure rooms devoted to orthopedic patients to be located on the first floor and all private, inpatient beds on the second floor.
Recent studies suggest concentrating orthopedic services improves program outcomes such as lengths of stay and mortality.
The expansion at Sentara CarePlex Hospital nearly coincides with the hospital's six-year anniversary. Since opening its doors late 2002, Sentara CarePlex Hospital has increased Peninsula access to physicians by nearly doubling its medical staff across numerous specialties. Cancer program enhancements include the opening of the region's first
comprehensive breast center at Sentara Port Warwick, and new health services now available on the Peninsula include the addition of life-saving emergency heart catheterizations and the opening of the Sentara Advanced Vascular Treatment Center.