Reaccreditation through dedication
December 19, 2022
Confident care, innovation and leadership brings reaccreditation to surgery center
For many people, the new year brings new resolutions – whether that’s getting organized, exploring new hobbies or spending more time with friends and family. For others, it’s a fresh start to get their health in check by catching up on annual exams and scheduling much needed – but often put off – elective surgery.
For those looking for patient-centered care, service and innovation in the Quad Cities, many turn to Mississippi Valley Surgery Center (MVSC).
Located at 3400 Dexter Court, Suite 200 in Davenport, MVSC has been a state-of-the-art outpatient facility at the forefront of minimally invasive procedures since 1996. Since then, the physicians that trust MVSC, along with their teams, have performed more than 234,000 outpatient surgeries – gaining the confidence of patients through dedication and expertise while earning a seal of approval from the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC).
This year, the Surgery Center crossed another important milestone – reaccreditation from the AAAHC as an Orthopaedic and Spine Center of Excellence. Today, MVSC is Iowa’s only AAAHC Advanced Orthopaedic and Spine Certified surgery center. AAAHC accreditation requires MVSC to participate in ongoing self-evaluation, peer review and education to continuously improve its care and services – with reevaluation offered every three years.
Surgical innovation and strong leadership
Before MVSC could earn its initial advanced accreditation in 2019 for orthopaedic and spine, the staff and facility underwent an extensive assessment and onsite survey by AAAHC expert surveyors who are actively involved in orthopaedic and spine care. This process took more than one year to complete.
“Truly, only the best in the nation meet the high standards set for the accreditation,” said Michael Patterson, president and CEO of Mississippi Valley Surgery Center and Mississippi Valley Endoscopy Center. “Achieving this advanced recertification for joint replacement and spine procedures is the result of our team’s pursuit of innovation and top-notch patient care.”
Effective leadership and integrated care were also a consideration in the certification process. The Surgery Center was evaluated on strategic planning, quality and safety. Providers and personnel were also examined, ensuring no detail of the surgical experience was overlooked.
MVSC’s Dr. John Hoffman, medical director of the Total Joint Program; Dr. Michael Dolphin, medical director of the Spine Program; and Dr. Tuvi Mendel, orthopaedics board chairman, are a few of the leaders that have played vital roles in developing clinical pathways and protocols to ensure successful patient outcomes.
As the first surgeon to conduct outpatient back surgery in the Quad Cities, Dr. Dolphin is committed to innovation, reiterating that the AAAHC reaccreditation confirms the highest level of patient care at MVSC.
“Patients receive excellent quality of care in an outpatient setting,” said Dr. Dolphin. “The health care team at the Surgery Center is warm and caring, and they are experts at what they do.”
Expertise leads team into the future
Patient feedback is a key part of the reaccreditation process – as is a commitment to innovation and improvements.
In 2021, MVSC introduced the first Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System to the Quad Cities, becoming one of roughly 50 centers nationwide transforming outpatient joint replacement with the use of SmartRobotics™.
As the MVSC leadership team looks ahead into 2023 and beyond, keeping the Quad Cities on the list of “firsts” in medical advancements remains a priority.
“We’re constantly evaluating the latest technology in order to provide successful outcomes for our patients and up the game for health care in the Quad Cities,” said Patterson. “That has always been our focus. Great innovation demands great expertise, which is why we not only brought in Mako, but the experts who are certified to use it.”