Cullman Senior Spring 2022 | Page 14

The Center of Excellence Orthopedics & Spine at Cullman Regional delivers an advanced level of care .
NUTRITION & HEALTHCARE

Elevating the Patient Experience

The Center of Excellence Orthopedics & Spine at Cullman Regional delivers an advanced level of care .

Everyone knows someone that has avoided a doctor visit or important medical care . The reasons vary — complicated forms , timeconsuming scheduling , inconvenient appointments , and confusing post-appointment care instructions are just a few of them . But what if going to the doctor could be different ? What if you never had to walk through the most frustrating parts of medical care alone ? At Cullman Regional , the Center of Excellence Orthopedics & Spine is changing the way patients receive care .

It starts when a patient calls for the first time . Patient Engagement Specialist Kari Hulsey is ready to help . “ I want to make people feel special , and not like they ’ re just a number or just a surgery ,” said Hulsey .
She connects patients with a Center of Excellence orthopedic surgeon or spine surgeon depending on their needs and preferences . There is no more searching for the right phone numbers to call or making multiple calls to get an appointment on the calendar . New and returning patients can take care of everything with just one phone number . “ I get them where they need to be quickly , with no run around ,” said Hulsey .
“ We ’ re taking more off the patient ’ s plate ,” said Stephen Gould , MD , an orthopedic surgeon at the Center of Excellence . “ Patients do not have to be responsible for making sure they ’ re getting the best care because our team is here to help .”
Once an initial physician appointment is scheduled , patients are assisted by a dedicated
14 | SPRING 2022 CULLMAN COUNTY SENIOR MAGAZINE