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Provider Profile - Athens Orthopedic Clinic
Author: | Monday May 11, 2009
Joseph M. Savitz, D.O., FAAPMR answered Georgia1st questions about the medical practice and the expansion of services.
Orthopedic Practice Has
Long History of Service
GA1st: Athens Orthopedic Clinic was founded over four decades ago. That should provide quite a history. Tell us a bit about the heritage of the practice. How has it evolved in recent years?
Dr. Savitz: The practice has evolved quite a bit. We started with a few physicians and no ancillaries. We are now staffed with 9 physicians, 8 physician assistants, physical and occupational therapy, MRI, occupational health center, and ambulatory surgical center. We also have about 120 employees which has grown from a beginning staff of less than 20.
GA1st: We hear the phase one-call or one-stop services, but it seems that AOC has developed a total program of care. Could you tell us how this came about?
Dr. Savitz: AOC Doctors and Management felt it was necessary to offer additional services to their patients in order to develop a complete customizable model of care. In order to do this, AOC had to be able to offer patients all aspects of care which included therapy, MRI, occupational health, and surgery to patients who come through the doors of AOC.
GA1st: How much emphasis do place on your workers' compensation services as part of your overall practice?
Dr. Savitz: We place a large emphasis on our workers' compensation services as part of our overall practice. It is important to be able to offer the community a dedicated division of our practice that could focus solely on getting the injured employee back to work. We have a dedicated physician and clinical case manager, Dr. Savitz and Jennifer Herring, who assist employers and workers compensation adjustors and case managers with necessary information and tools for their injured employees.
GA1st: As the practice has grown, so have services. Please tell us a bit about the Occupational Health Center and your Orthotics Program?
Dr. Savitz: Our dedicated Occupational Health Center provides employers with an individualized approach to the treatment of injured employees. We can perform urine drug screens, EMG/NCVs, and Permanent Impairment Ratings in addition to orthopedic care. Our number one goal is to return an injured employee to work as soon as possible.
The Orthotics Program allows our providers to write a prescription for customized orthoses. The individualized approach for orthoses provides the patient with a customized product resulting in better results.
GA1st: The Georgia Sports Medicine Institute has a very specific goal of returning an individual to the highest level of function. What is the reception to the institute in the professional and consumer arenas?
Dr. Savitz: Many people have a very high opinion of our therapy facility due to the approach that is taken by our therapists. The patients have a high success rate with therapy resulting in a faster recovery period.
GA1st: Why did you decide to open your own Ambulatory Surgical Center. How has that worked out over the last three years since it began?
Dr. Savitz: We decided to open our own Ambulatory Surgical Center in order to continue with our model of the one stop service. Patients
desired to have surgery in an outpatient setting without stepping foot in a hospital. Our facility is cheaper for the patients and much more convenient and efficient.
GA1st: Finally, you have developed a new web site. What has been the most rewarding aspect of that and what are your thoughts on the communication technology that has immersed our world, including health care?
Dr. Savitz: Our new website has enabled our patients to communicate with us via electronically whereas the functionality was not present before. The new website also features additional information for our patients when researching our providers. It will allow them to truly find out as much information as possible about our practice so they know they are choosing the right provider when they choose AOC.
Ed. Note:Athens Orthopedic Clinic, P.A., has multiple locations. For workers' compensation information contact Jennifer at 706-433-3259 or visit www.athensorthopedicclinic.com
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