Holland Centre wins prestigious 3M award

A new model of care that improves access and quality of care for patients with hip and knee arthritis has resulted in a 3M National Quality Health Care Team Award for Sunnybrook's Holland Centre.

The Holland Centre is one of the largest hip and knee joint replacement centres in Canada, performing over 2,200 procedures annually. The 3M Health Care Quality Team Award recognizes three important elements - innovation, quality and teamwork.

"We are delighted to have received this honour," says Deborah Kennedy, manager of program development at Sunnybrook's Holland Orthopaedic & Arthritic Centre.

"The new model of care truly speaks to the interdisciplinary team behind the initiative and their dedication and commitment to providing the best possible care for our patients living with hip and knee arthritis."

The team-based care model was officially launched for patients in 2007 in response to the Ontario Wait Time Strategy. The model utilizes centralized referral intake with an electronic referral tracking system to monitor wait times and the status of referrals throughout the program. In the assessment centre, each patient is assessed promptly after referral and is managed proactively to receive either conservative or surgical management.

A key member of the team is the advanced practice physiotherapist/occupational therapist who has been specially trained to conduct a comprehensive physical assessment to confirm patients' need for surgical consultation. The work of the advanced practice clinicians reduces the time spent by orthopaedic surgeons seeing new patients who are not surgical candidates.

If surgery is required, patients have choice in terms of selecting a specific surgeon or waiting for the next available surgeon.

Patient satisfaction has been very high with the new model of care.