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Joined on the show today by Allan Strongwater, MD, the Senior Vice President of Medical Informatics, with medCPU.
Discussion guide from our conversation with Allan Strongwater, MD:
1. Dr. Strongwater gives us the overview of the Joint Replacement Bundle Program, also known as the Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement (CJR). Allan shares the critical objective of the program.
2. Key goals include improving the quality of care, AND to reduce the costs…
3. One million procedures conducted each year…
4. We discuss when the legislation was passed, and when it went into effect.
5. Although early in its implementation, Allan discussed the long-term goal of the program and what the benefits will be.
6. Who will be participating in the CJR program? [Hint: this program is NOT optional]
7. Allan discusses the intent behind CMS’ five-year program window.
8. He then shares his opinion on whether this program will truly benefit the patient. Will this increase opportunities for patients to find surgeons willing to do this kind of work?
9. We then discuss quality. How will hospital quality be reported? CMS has specific a quality assurance program…there are three components.
10. We discuss follow-up care, and if more priority can be put there…
11. Are patients aware that they have a choice of their provider of care?
12. The future of technology and healthcare…we ask Dr. Strongwater to comment on where things are going…
About Allan Strongwater, MD:
Dr. Strongwater is a Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeon and an Electrical Engineer. The majority of his professional career has been dedicated to improving the lives of children with disabilities. During December 2009 he received the Ordine Della Stella Della Solidarieta Italiana – Commendatore, awarded by the President of Italy, the Honorable Napolitano, for his medical work with children. He has been listed among America’s Top Doctors and Top Doctors New York Metro Area by Castle Connolly, New York Magazine “The Best Doctors in New York,” New York Super Doctors by the New York Times, and NJ’s Favorite Kids’ Docs by New Jersey Family magazine. He has received numerous awards including the Patients’ Choice Award, Award for Scientific Excellence in Medicine, Casa Dei Bambini Italiani, Physician of the Year award and Resident Teaching Award.
Beyond awards, he has held numerous professional positions both in the medical and computing fields including Chairman of Orthopaedic Surgery at Maimonides Medical Center, Chief of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at St. Joseph’s Medical Center and Director of the Neuromuscular service at NYU Hospital For Joint Diseases. He was responsible for the oversight of clinical computing applications at Maimonides Medical Center over an eleven year period. Before joining medCPU he was CTO of Ironwood Medical Software and President of Custom Computing Concepts.
Professionally, he has published numerous articles appearing in the medical literature. He participates in a number of medical societies including the Pediatric Orthopaedic Society of North America (POSNA), the American Orthopaedic Association (AOA), and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery (AAOS). He is listed in Who’s Who in America. As an engineer, he designed and implemented one of the first fully computerized human motion analysis laboratory in the United States.
Academically, he earned his medical degree from Rush University in Chicago, completed his residency in Orthopaedic surgery at Yale University and a fellowship in Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases. He received his Electrical Engineering degree from the University of Rochester. Dr. Strongwater is committed to improving clinical outcomes through sophisticated computer support of the health care provider.
He is a former marketing strategist, national political operative, and lobbyist.
Todd has published five books, writes a business + lifestyle column, is a distance runner, and lives in Chicago with his wife Stephanie + family.
