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Scottish Rite Hospital Provides Multidisciplinary Care Through New NSP Clinic

Scottish Rite Hospital Provides Multidisciplinary Care Through New NSP Clinic

by | Jun 28, 2018 | Research & Innovation

At Scottish Rite Hospital, providing premier patient-centered care is at the forefront of our mission. Through the hospital’s six centers for excellence, our doctors and researchers collaborate to study the common to the complex of orthopedic conditions to find new and innovative ways to care for our patients. For 15 years, the Center for Excellence in Spine has evolved to be an essential component to the effectiveness of treating the hospital’s spine patients. 

Scoliosis presents in many shapes and forms. Our experts in the spine center collaborate to determine the best and most effective techniques to treating spinal disorders. Recently, the hospital created a clinic specifically for neuromuscular-syndromic scoliosis patients (NSP). This patient population consists of children diagnosed with neuromuscular (affects the muscles and nerves and can lead to scoliosis) and syndromic scoliosis (spine curve develops as part of a syndrome). Because of the complexity of this disorder, these children need to be cared for by multiple specialists. The patients and families come to the hospital for one, comprehensive appointment that includes specialists from multiple disciplines. Depending on the child’s needs, assessments available from various experts include:

Anesthesiology
Child Life
Dental
Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician
Dietary
Labs/Hematology
Medical Consult
Coordinators (for external appointments)
Neurology
Nursing staff
Occupational Therapy
Physical Therapy
Psychology
Pulmonology
Research
Social Services
Surgical planning
Urology
Staff orthopedic surgeon Amy L. McIntosh, M.D., has been the leader of this initiative and believes in the positive impact it can have on the patient and their families. “The clinic is patient and family centered,” says McIntosh. “It coordinates multiple services into one appointment with the hope of decreasing the burden on families. The clinic also emphasizes open communication between providers and the families with a goal of reducing post-operative complications and costs.”

As a component of the clinic, research is heavily involved to collect certain information on this patient population to evaluate the effectiveness of this approach to care. The study titled, “Rate in Infection in Non-Congenital and Non-Idiopathic Scoliosis: A Prospective Observational Cohort Study Following Implementation of Multimodal Prevention Protocol,” analyzes all patients diagnosed with neuromuscular and syndromic scoliosis who are undergoing surgery. The hospital’s team of clinical research coordinators collect clinical and radiographic data on patients who are willing to enroll with a goal of creating a standardized model to decrease infection rates.

Scottish Rite Hospital’s Center for Excellence in Spine continues to grow and be innovative to provide world-renowned care to scoliosis patients. It is initiatives like the NSP clinic that showcase the hospital’s commitment to collaboration and approach to multidisciplinary care to advance how the hospital treats this patient population.

Learn more about our Center for Excellence in Spine.

Integrated Team Approach to Patient Care Shows Positive Results

Integrated Team Approach to Patient Care Shows Positive Results

by | Apr 23, 2018 | Research & Innovation

At Scottish Rite Hospital, our experts are dedicated to caring for the whole child—mind, body, and spirit. The hospital includes six Centers for Excellence that each cultivate the mission of patient care, research, and education. Within those centers lies integrated services that allow our specialists to provide world-renowned care to every patient. 

The hospital’s psychology department is an essential component of the overall success of our patients before, during, and after treatment. As integrated members of the hospital’s health care team, our licensed psychologists work closely with our orthopedic staff to promote a healthy lifestyle for the child through clinical care, education, and ongoing research. 

Recently, an article from the hospital was published in the Journal of Pediatric Orthopaedics titled, “Perioperative Interdisciplinary Intervention Contributes to Improved Outcomes of Adolescents Treated with Hip Preservation Surgery.” It is a collaborative project including pediatric psychologists, researchers, and orthopedic surgeons. This study evaluated adolescent candidates for hip preservation surgery and the impact of perioperative interdisciplinary care on pre-operative and post-operative outcomes. Patients who undergo hip preservation surgery typically present with chronic pain lasting longer than six months, which has the potential to develop negative psychological effects on the adolescent. 

The team evaluated a total of 67 patients before and after undergoing hip preservation surgery. Our psychologists worked closely with this group of patients before surgery to provide education, counseling, and self-reported outcomes. In comparison to patients who did not receive psychological intervention prior to having surgery, those who did recorded:

  • Higher self-esteem and self-reliance
  • Less anxiety and depression
  • Decrease in school problems and social stress

In conclusion, the project revealed that pre-operative education and counseling for patients undergoing hip preservation surgery improved their overall physical and psychological function after surgery. Pediatric psychologist Heather Richard, Psy.D. is excited about the results of this research and what it means for the future of care. “This collaborative study shows the true impact education and counseling can have on a patient undergoing surgery,” says Richard. “Our psychology team is proud to be a part of an institution that understands the importance of this service and how it can positively influence the patient. We look forward to continuing our research to improve our care of the whole child.” 

Read more about the published article.

Genetics Team Attends International Meeting in China

Genetics Team Attends International Meeting in China

by | Apr 10, 2018 | Research & Innovation

Staff from Scottish Rite Hospital travel near and far to participate in medical conferences to share their most recent research and learn from other experts in the field. Last week, members from our genetics research team were in Shenzhen and Guangzhou, China to attend the International Consortium for Spinal Genetics, Development and Disease (ICSGDD) conference. The ICSGDD includes two groups who combined after last year’s inaugural international conference, “Genomic Approaches to Understanding and Treating Scoliosis.” The hospital led and largely organized this three-day, two-part meeting with the first half in Shenzhen hosted by the University of Hong Kong and the second half in Guangzhou hosted by Sun Yat Sen University Hospital.

The conference included faculty and presenters from across the world who have been selected to provide the latest innovations within scoliosis genetic research. Scottish Rite Hospital’s Director of Molecular Genetics Carol Wise, Ph.D. is one of three conference chairpersons. As a leader and co-founder of ICSGDD, she understands its significance and the impact it could have for patients diagnosed with scoliosis. “This group has made great strides over the past year to bring better treatment for complex forms of scoliosis,” says Wise. “The ICSGDD conference is unique because it brings together experts in scoliosis genetic research from different areas of the world. The diversity of the group cultivates collaboration and in-depth discussions to better understand these conditions.”

This international conference is one of many that the hospital is actively involved with each year. As a research and teaching institution, it is important for staff to learn from fellow medical professionals and share their expertise, both locally and internationally, to ultimately provide the best care possible to our patients.

Learn more about the hospital’s Sarah M. & Charles E. Seay Center for Musculoskeletal Research.

D CEO: Scottish Rite Wins Texas Hospital Association Award for Reducing Surgical Site Infections

D CEO: Scottish Rite Wins Texas Hospital Association Award for Reducing Surgical Site Infections

by | Mar 23, 2018 | Press Coverage, Research & Innovation

View original story on D CEO’s website here.

Dallas-based Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children won an award from the Texas Hospital Association for an initiative that reduced surgical site infection (SSI) rates among spinal fusion patients by 88 percent in 2016, the hospital said in a news release this week.

Scottish Rite Hospital received THA’s 2017 Bill Aston Award for Quality for its six-step bundled intervention approach. The award goes to a member hospital that has “measurable success in improving quality and patient outcomes through implementation of an evidence-based patient care initiative.”

Scottish Rite Hospital approached the issue in 2016 with a multidisciplinary committee that sought to improve the hospital’s quality and patient safety outcomes.

“Providing world-class orthopedic care is our highest priority,” Matt Chance, senior vice president of operations for Scottish Rite Hospital, said in a statement. “The continued efforts of our Quality Improvement team and the SSI committee to refine our procedures is just another example of how we constantly challenge ourselves to improve outcomes for our patients.”

For the full release, visit here.

Dallas Hospitals Collaborate for Annual Research Conference

Dallas Hospitals Collaborate for Annual Research Conference

by | Dec 1, 2017 | Research & Innovation

Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is hosting the 2017 Clinical Research Conference: Building Clinical Research. This collaborative one-day meeting brings together research professionals from various institutions around the Dallas area, including Scottish Rite Hospital, Children’s Health, the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and Parkland Memorial Hospital.

Various staff from each institution have been invited to give presentations on their area of expertise. The annual conference allows clinicians and researchers to learn from one another on the importance of utilizing research to improve patient care, innovation regarding study design and working through the difficulties of multidisciplinary research studies.  

Scottish Rite Hospital’s Director of Clinical Research Adriana De La Rocha, Ph.D., CCRP and Assistant Administrator of Research Matt Ferguson, recognize the value of providing an educational event for the staff and fellow research professionals in the area. “The annual research conference gives the hospital the opportunity to network and collaborate within the research community,” says De La Rocha. “As an institution, we are honored to work with Children’s Health to host this meeting to bring more education and awareness on the type of clinical research projects we collaborate with our medical staff and learn how we may improve the care we give our patients.” 

This year, Assistant Chief of Staff Emeritus John G. Birch, M.D. is among one of the conference speakers. As a key member to the hospital’s Center for Excellence in Limb Lengthening team, Birch is presenting on the evolution of leg lengthening and reconstruction within the pediatric population and the future of the treatment. 

Scottish Rite Hospital is honored to host such an influential conference to facilitate collaboration between four prestigious institutions. This opportunity allows the hospital to continue its mission of education, research and world-renowned patient care. 

Medical Staff Attend the 11th International Congress on Early Onset Scoliosis

Medical Staff Attend the 11th International Congress on Early Onset Scoliosis

by | Nov 15, 2017 | Research & Innovation

Doctors and researchers from Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children are attending the 11th International Congress on Early Onset Scoliosis (ICEOS) meeting in San Diego, California. This annual conference brings together medical professionals who specialize in treating pediatric spinal deformities to discuss the latest research and innovations.

The Growing Spine Foundation (GSF), established in 2008, is a non-profit organization that supports education and research efforts to enhance the care and treatment of early onset scoliosis (EOS) patients. The GSF educational mission is carried out through the annual ICEOS meeting as a commitment to finding new techniques to help this patient population. Several of Scottish Rite Hospital’s doctors are members of this group. Over the years, ICEOS has grown to be known as the premier medical conference for clinicians and researchers who are dedicated to researching innovative techniques to care for children with early onset scoliosis (EOS).

Members of GSF from the hospital include Assistant Chief of Staff Charles E. Johnston, M.D., Medical Director of Ambulatory Care Brandon A. Ramo, M.D., staff orthopedist Amy. L. McIntosh, M.D. and research coordinator Dong-Phuong Tran, M.S.

As a faculty member of ICEOS, Ramo understands the value this meeting brings to the overall care for patients diagnosed with EOS. “Early onset scoliosis can range from the common to the complex,” says Ramo. “The ICEOS meeting enables collaboration and focused discussions regarding this patient population to ultimately educate specialists on the latest treatment techniques to enhance the standard of care.”

This year, the hospital has several projects selected for presentation. In addition, staff are leading various educational sessions throughout the three-day meeting. The research projects selected include:

  • Continued Deterioration in Pulmonary Function at Minimum 18-year Follow-up from Early Thoracic Fusion in non-Neuromuscular Scoliosis – Nominated for a Behrooz A. Akbarnia Award for Best Paper
  • Short Term HRQoL Results in MCGR and TGR patients – Divergent from Long Term EOSQ Results in TGR Graduates

Scottish Rite Hospital is honored to have the opportunity to educate and share research with medical professionals from around the world. It is conferences like ICEOS that allows our doctors to have a farther reach to bring the best possible treatment back to our patients and children everywhere.