Regions Hospital Masters Orthopedic Program expands to Methodist Hospital

Program will offer innovative bone health care to more patients in the west metro

ST. LOUIS PARK, Minn. — The Masters Orthopedic Program at Regions Hospital is expanding to Methodist Hospital in St. Louis Park, broadening its scope to provide nation-leading fracture prevention and care to older patients across the metro.

Established in 2005, the program provides inpatient care for hip fractures and other common fractures among the elderly, strategies for preventing and treating fractures and compassionate on-site orthopedic care for patients in nursing care facilities.

Unique to the Masters Orthopedic Program is Mobile Outreach, the only program of its kind that provides on-site orthopedic and musculoskeletal care at transitional care facilities, nursing homes and assisted living facilities. Through Mobile Outreach, nurse practitioners and physician assistants visit patients in their places of residence, reducing unnecessary hospital visits and making it easier for patients to receive follow-up care. Through this unique approach, estimated total-cost-of-care savings to patients and payers in 2016 was more than $214,000.

Under the leadership of Julie Switzer, MD, orthopedic surgeon, HealthPartners director of geriatric trauma and associate professor of orthopedic surgery at the University of Minnesota, the Masters Orthopedic Program conducted 500 Mobile Outreach visits in 2016 alone. In 2018, the program has grown to conduct 1,150 visits to patient homes, independent living facilities, transitional care and other assisted living facilities.

“The Masters Orthopedic Program exemplifies best experience, quality and affordability,” said Dr. Switzer. “We’re excited to expand this one-of-a-kind approach to care for older orthopedic patients to the west metro.”

Through partnerships with specialists from different areas, the team educates and cares for patients, preventing future injuries and fractures. With this expansion, the program now provides care at Regions Hospital, Methodist Hospital and more than 130 nursing homes and extended care facilities.

In July, Dr. Switzer moved her clinical practice to Methodist Hospital, where she will have oversight of the Masters Orthopedic Program across HealthPartners.