NAMES IN THE NEWS

Apex Surgical Center Performs its First TJR

DECEMBER 6, 2017

On December 1, 2017, Andrew Wickine, MD, performed the first same-day total joint replacement (TJR) of Apex Surgical Center in Westmoreland, New York.

“Total joint replacements have historically been performed in hospitals where the patient would traditionally stay one-to-two nights," said Geoffrey Smith, chief executive officer of Apex Surgical Center, in a release. "However, in the last five years, less invasive surgical methods, better pain control and a high degree of patient education and engagement have allowed total joint surgeons like Dr. Wickline and their care teams to offer patients the option to have the joint replacement in the morning and go home the same day to recover in the comfort of their homes.”

Wickline has been instrumental in developing and perfecting many of the methods used in this TJR, including patient self-directed physical therapy and a tourniquet-free total knee replacement. "Patients are not the only ones benefiting from this new care model," Smith said in the release. "The health system and insurance carriers are benefiting from a significant decrease in costs."

Wickline will perform his first same-day total hip replacement in January 2018, the release stated.

Apex Surgery Center also is developing a spine surgery program. The ASC currently performs more than 3,600 surgeries and procedures annually including orthopaedic, plastic, pain, urology and podiatry.