Hartford HealthCare has opened a new Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute (COI) at St. Vincent’s Medical Center in Bridgeport., bringing together more of Connecticut’s best orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons at a center for the care and recovery of patients with musculoskeletal injuries and disorders.

The center, modeled on the highly successful Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute at MidState Medical Center, has renovated the entire orthopaedic program at St. Vincent’s with patient experience the top priority. Every detail, from pre- and post-operative education to physical therapy that begins within hours of a procedure, is patient-centered. 90-day physician-led support ensures concierge quality care for the duration of a patient’s visit and recovery.

Two areas of the medical center are being renovated and repurposed expressly to meet the needs of orthopaedic and spine patients and their guests. A new 2,700-square-foot Galleria on the third floor is a patient and family-friendly check-in and waiting area, including private registration, waiting area and private consultation rooms.

The 30,000-square-foot 7th Floor Inpatient Unit is being renovated to include 35 private rooms and bathrooms, a full private kitchen to serve patients, a nourishment station, special amenities, and physical therapy services. Renovations will be complete by May.

“Since St. Vincent’s joined the Hartford HealthCare family, we’ve worked together to create greater access to high-quality care in the Fairfield Region,” said Hartford HealthCare President and Chief Executive Officer Jeffrey A. Flaks. “The Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute offers a destination, world-class orthopaedic experience, supported by a highly skilled team. This is made possible through our innovative partnerships, which help us to offer new and exciting ways to bring specialized care to our communities.”

Hartford HealthCare and St. Vincent’s Medical Center are partnering with Connecticut Orthopaedic Specialists, the largest orthopaedics practice in the state, OrthoConnecticut and the Orthopaedic Specialty Group to bring the COI brand into Fairfield County. Surgeons, including neurosurgeons and orthopaedic surgeons, are all board-certified and have incorporated proven implants and technological advancements.

Among the advancements:

  • Mako Robotic-Arm Assisted Surgery System: a surgeon-controlled robotic arm system that enables precise alignment and placement of implants.
  • Globus ExcelsiusGPS: a sophisticated surgical guidance system for spine procedures which allows surgeons to perform less invasive procedures and helps them ensure implants and hardware placement are even more precise.
  • Medtronic Stealth Navigation System: precisely tracks the location of surgical instruments throughout a procedure.
  • 7D Surgical: the first and only Machine-vision Image Guided Surgery (MvIGS) system that allows surgeons to perform fast, cost-effective, radiation-free spinal navigation.

“Every acute care hospital in the country is providing orthopaedic surgery. What makes this approach so unique is the physician-led oversight of the program and a concierge approach to the patient experience,” said Hartford HealthCare’s Fairfield Region President Vince DiBattista. “We have created a destination center for comprehensive care resulting in superior experience and higher quality outcomes for both patient and physician.”

For more information on COI programs and services, click here.