Panorama Orthopedics Steps Up to the Challenge … a Level I Orthopedic Trauma Service

In the past several years there have been reports of emergency rooms closing because of a lack of specialist coverage. In the Denver market several hospitals are struggling to provide orthopedic coverage for their emergency rooms. St. Anthony Central Hospital, a Level I Trauma Center, does not have that problem. The physicians at Panorama Orthopedics and the administration and trauma department at St. Anthony Central Hospital have been able to develop a system that provides orthopedic trauma coverage 24-hours a day, seven days a week.

Hospitals across the country are placed in various categories based on their abilities to handle trauma cases. A Level I Center is the highest category there is. This means that the most severe, life threatening trauma cases are sent to these facilities. To be a Level I Center, a hospital must have a trauma surgeon physically in the hospital 24-hours a day, and consultants available within 20 minutes if they are needed.

Most Level I Trauma Centers are associated with a University Medical School where resident physicians in training can help cover the volume of patients seen. St. Anthony Central Hospital is an unusual Level I Center since it is a private hospital and not affiliated with a university. St. Anthony has contracted with the physicians of Panorama Orthopedics to provide orthopedic trauma coverage.

Panorama Orthopedics' Trauma Service is a team consisting of four fellowship-trained orthopedic trauma surgeons, seven certified physician assistants specializing in trauma and a patient liaison. Other physicians in our group assist by taking call and covering follow-up clinics. We also have trauma fellows, who are orthopedic surgeons that have completed their residency training but are taking an extra year to learn more about orthopedic trauma.

Dr. Bharat Desai is the Director of the Orthopedic Trauma Service at St. Anthony Hospital. Dr. Peter Lammens is the Fellowship Director of the Orthopedic Trauma Service. Dr. Michael Morley and Dr. Patrick McNair are partners with Panorama Orthopedics.

The relationship between St. Anthony Central Hospital and Panorama Orthopedics' Trauma Team is a win-win arrangement. St. Anthony assists with funding to help pay for the fellows, physician assistants and patient liaisons on the Trauma Service. Panorama Orthopedics guarantees that the emergency room will be covered "24/7" by the best quality orthopedic team in the region.

Panorama Orthopedics and Centura Systems have worked together in a Trauma Outreach Program. This program has developed a network of referral hospitals across the state and region to bring complex orthopedic trauma cases into St. Anthony Hospital. In addition, St. Anthony Central's "Flight for Life" provides both fixed wing and helicopter air-ambulance to enhance this service. This program benefits both the hospital and Panorama as well as providing a needed service to the public.

It is interesting that, while many hospitals across the country are struggling to keep their emergency rooms open, the partnership of Panorama Orthopedics' Trauma Service and St. Anthony Hospital has allowed this Level I Trauma Center to provide high quality care to our patients.