Human Touch continued
Members of the Hand Center team at Scott & White Healthcare .
one or both hands . Robert A . Weber , MD , chief of the Section of Hand Surgery , Division of Plastic Surgery , and director of the plastic surgery residency program , says , “ The hand does so many things for us . It ’ s our primary means by which we work . The hand gives us life . And when we want to express love to another person , what do we do ? We hold their hand .” The hand performs vital functions for us every day . So when it is impaired , it must be restored both functionally and aesthetically .
The new Hand Center takes shape National trends pointed to it , and so did the conviction among Scott & White ’ s hand experts in plastic surgery and orthopedic surgery . A Hand Center was needed because caregivers often collaborated on patient care . It was a recognition that patients need an integrated approach toward repairing injured or diseased hands , and that could be achieved seamlessly with the creation of a Hand Center .
The Hand Center is a collaboration among specially trained caregivers in the Department of Orthopedics and the Division of Plastic Surgery , certified hand therapists in the Rehabilitation Department , and other caregivers who offer care with compassion and expertise . The team of specialists assembled in the Hand Center includes four orthopedic and plastic surgeons who have completed fellowships in hand surgery . In addition , occupational therapists led by a certified hand therapist and other caregivers help restore hand functions , taking into account the tasks patients need to perform to live fully .
“ To take care of patients really well , we had to combine all the team ’ s talent into an integrated Hand Center ,” says Dr . Weber . In 2010 , the Hand Center ’ s orthopedic and plastic surgeons began sharing the same clinic space and support staff , and a single appointment system was put in place for patient convenience . The partnership among medical and surgical disciplines allows patients to easily access advanced hand care , including expertise in rehabilitation .
“ We ’ re trying to make care much more efficient for the patient ,” says Dr . Fornfeist . Scott & White also recruited two hand surgeons to expedite patients ’ requests for appointment times : Wendy Parker , MD , PhD , and Charles F . Kallina , MD . A surgeon is always on call to treat hand trauma cases that come to the Emergency Department .
Hand therapy is a must “ When you think about the function of the hand , it really requires all kinds of motion and dexterity ,” says the chairman of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery , Robert A . Probe , MD , who is also director of the Division of Orthopedic Trauma . “ So getting that function back often requires extended occupational therapy .”
Integral to the Hand Center team are the occupational therapists , led by Jaime Ortiz , a certified hand therapist . “ Hand therapists make the surgeons look good ,” Dr . Weber says . “ Technically , we can repair fractured tendons and fix other issues that affect the hand pretty easily ,”
6 THE CATALYST Spring 11 | www . sw . org