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At MidState, Orthopaedic Institute an ‘Entirely Different Experience’

December 18, 2017

MidState Medical Center in Meriden is welcoming a new era of orthopaedic care, closer than ever to home: The Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute (COI).

COI is a hospital within a hospital dedicated exclusively to orthopedics and musculoskeletal care. It provides a unique and highly specialized experience for the patient, according to orthopedic surgeon and COI assistant medical director Dr. Leonard Kolstad.

“We’re specialized from top to bottom. Not only does each surgeon have his own area of expertise, but our nurses are all specially trained, certified, educated in orthopedics only, and that’s all they do,” said Dr Kolstad. “We have (physician’s assistants), same situation. They’re handpicked, and they’ve all had experience just in orthopedics, and that’s all they’re expected to do. It’s an entirely different experience.”

Dr. Kolstad points out that as recently as two years ago, 80 percent of patients receiving orthopedic care would go directly to nursing homes for rehabilitation. But today, that number has turned around: 80 percent of COI patients will go directly home.

“Most of this is education,” he said, pointing to COI’s thorough patient coaching that takes place in the weeks and days prior to surgery. This helps in getting patients out of the hospital and back home sooner than ever.

“Whereas before patients would stay three days in the hospital and go to a nursing home trying to recover,” said Dr. Kolstad, “now they’re up, they’re walking the same day within a couple hours of surgery, and most of them are home the next day.”

Learn more about the unique orthopaedic experience available only at the Connecticut Orthopaedic Institute by calling 1.833.286.7846, or visit here.