New Practice Model Update
In April 2016, Lincoln Surgical Associates rolled out a new practice model that offered two integrated service areas: surgicalists and electivists.
The surgicalist team works primarily in the hospital providing acute care surgical services for the emergency rooms and inpatient floors. They are available anytime day or night at any hospital.
The electivist team provides surgical care for scheduled office consultations. As our electivists have minimal call coverage responsibilities, they have more predictable office hours for your patients, and office appointments do not have to be cancelled for hospital emergencies.
Surgicalist model success
Dr. Scott Crouch reports that the new model is going well and is a change for the better on so many levels.
"Patient care is significantly enhanced when a surgicalist model is utilized within a community," Dr. Crouch said. "Patients in the hospital, whether inpatient or emergency, benefit from the focused attention that is possible when a surgicalist is concentrated on their surgical needs rather than being pulled away to office hours or to perform elective surgeries. Communication with the nurses, operating rooms, and other physicians in the hospital is streamlined with one point of contact for all questions and concerns regarding LSA patients."
Dr. Crouch said that teamwork is at the foundation of the surgicalist program and patients appreciate that it takes a dedicated team to offer timely care anytime, day or night.
"Patients feel good about having a surgeon nearby, focused on their care and being available for questions during rounds and throughout the day," he said. "ER docs appreciate the availability of the surgicalists for more timely evaluation of critical patients, often occurring even before the patient leaves the ER."
Providing dedicated surgeons to care for those patients in the hospital with the most urgent needs has elevated their service to a new level.
Mike McManus, Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Officer
"Lincoln Surgical has always provided excellent surgical care to patients at Memorial," said Memorial Hospital Chief Operating Officer Mike McManus. "Providing dedicated surgeons to care for those patients in the hospital with the most urgent needs has elevated their service to a new level. We are pleased to partner with LSA to offer this service."
"As patient cases and healthcare provider shortages rise, many forward-thinking hospitals are engaging the surgicalist model to accompany existing hospitalist and intensivist programs," said Peg Sebastian, MSN, RN, MBA, FACHE, president and chief executive officer of HSHS St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. "After successful implementation, HSHS St. Elizabeth's Hospital has experienced shorter wait times and length of stay, less patient transfers, fewer patient complications."
Primary care physicians in the community are recognizing the surgicalist program's merits as well. "They are realizing that the quality care they have come to expect from LSA is delivered in a timely and efficient manner when a surgicalist program is utilized," Dr. Crouch said.
Electivist model continues to grow
"The electivist team is staying busy," said Dr. Jim Clanahan. "That side of the practice continues to grow because we are able to focus on patients seeking elective surgery, and we're not being called out of the office."
"In the outpatient setting LSA has always offered first-rate elective surgical care covering a broad range of general, breast, and plastic surgery services," McManus said.
Dr. Clanahan also said that Lincoln Surgical may be expanding the electivist team in the near future with additional colon and breast specialists.
That side of the practice continues to grow because we are able to focus on patients seeking elective surgery, and we're not being called out of the office.
Dr. Clanahan
Moves support practice model
With Lincoln Surgical moving its offices to the campuses of Memorial Hospital East and St. Elizabeth's Hospital in O'Fallon, both teams will be closer to the center of healthcare in the Metro East. And that means more complete coverage day or night, all from the trusted teams at Lincoln Surgical.
To learn more about the practice models, please call Lincoln Surgical at 618.277.7400.