By Alicia Dorset
C & G Staff Writer
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The staff at Michigan Orthopaedic Hospital consider the Madison Heights facility to be one of the best-kept secrets in the area. They’re hoping to change that by stepping out into the community.

The hospital, the only specialty orthopaedic center in Michigan, launched a community education series on Jan. 26 to both educate the public on important health issues and inform local residents about the many services the hospital can provide. 

"This is the first time for the series," said Annessa Carlisle, director of marketing and public relations. "We want to reach out to the community. We still are that community hospital."

The series will feature a variety of topics during the course of the series. The first lecture was lead by Dr. Miguel Lis-Planells, a member of the hospital and a specialist in neurosurgery. His presentation, "Advances in the Management of Back Pain," started the series on Jan. 26.

"As a specialty hospital, Michigan Orthopaedic represents the future of health care," Lis-Planells. "Seminars such as this are one way to educate the public not only about the specialty hospital in general, but in particular what we offer in the care of neck and back problems, covering the entire spectrum of spine care."

With a variety of specialists available at the hospital, the series allows residents to see just what is available at the Madison Heights facility.

"The best way to understand who we are is to get them (residents) in," said Carlisle.

In addition to the back pain discussion, other planned lectures include plastic surgery focusing on tummy tucks and the advancement of joint replacement. According to Carlisle, the series was an idea straight from the hospital’s doctors.

 "The doctors really wanted to do this," said Carlisle. "This gives us a nice variety of topics."

Not only did the hospital’s doctors want to start the lecture series for community members, it also served as a way to provide helpful information in the confusing world of changing health care options.

"There are so many choices in health care today," said Carlisle. "It’s a way of enabling that one-on-one between the community and the physicians.

The lecture series is free to the public and lasts for just an hour. With topics planned through the spring, Carlisle and the rest of the hospital’s staff are hoping the series will become a permanent feature.

It’s a true community outreach," said Carlisle.

Purchased by the Detroit Medical Center in 2003, the hospital has gone through many changes and renovations at its 30671 Stephenson Hwy. location.

"We are the DMC, but we are still the Michigan Orthopaedic Hospital," said Carlisle.

Many residents are unaware that while the hospital serves as the only orthopaedic specialty facility in the state, it also has a full emergency department, or emergency room, open 24 hours a day.

As part of the DMC, the emergency department features the group’s "29-minute guarantee," a promise that states patients will be seen by a physician within that time. However, due to the small patient volume the ED has, the Madison Heights location sees, treats and releases 80 percent of their patients in under an hour.

"We’ve been able to handle everything," said Carlisle.

The hospital prides itself on its dedication to patients and the care they receive whether it be before or after surgery or during a visit to the ED. Thirty-nine in-patient beds help promote the small atmosphere after surgery, as does room service, high staff-to-patient ratios and even bedside Internet access.

"What distinguishes us is the service," said Carlisle. "We’re a small hospital with big service."

By being a part of the DMC, the hospital features a varied selection of specialists from the Detroit hospitals as well as Wayne State University.

"We have the doctors here that are known for the toughest cases," said Carlisle. "They love doing the tougher cases. Basically we’ve recruited the best."

The lecture series isn’t the only new feature at this hospital in 2005. Plans to bring more plastic surgery procedures are already underway, a demand driven by recent television "makeover" shows.

"We have a lot of specialization," said Carlisle.

Whether it’s a surgery to replace a knee, a visit to the ED or even listening to a community lecture, the Michigan Orthopaedic Specialty Hospital continues to strive to be there for their patients.

"It’s our level of quality that the small environment gives and controls," said Carlisle.

To find out more about the hospital and its upcoming events, visit them online at www.michiganorthopaedic.org.

  Click here to see next month's seminar topic