Leading Orthopedics Hospital Reaches Sweeping Agreement With Brazilian Healthcare Giant

NEW YORK, May 6, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Clinical pathways and quality initiatives leading to world class outcomes are the foundation of a far-reaching agreement between New York-based Hospital for Special Surgery, the recognized leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and related specialties, and Amil Par, the largest managed healthcare organization in Brazil, on behalf of Hospitalys Ortopedia, its newly opened orthopedic center in Rio de Janeiro.

The collaboration reinforces Amil Para's reputation for leadership with the February opening of Hospitalys, which specializes in spine disorders, joint replacement and sports medicine, orthopedic areas for which Hospital for Special Surgery is world renowned.

Hospitalys and the Brazilian medical community are preparing now for two major sports events. Rio is the host city of the 2016 Summer Olympics. Brazil is also anticipating the medical challenges of the international sports community coming for the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

"Our joint endeavors will be targeted on sharing the depth of our experience in delivering world class quality care and outcomes," said Hospital for Special Surgery President and CEO Louis A. Shapiro. "We are pleased to be part of a continuing collaboration that reflects both of our institutions' dedication to academic excellence and innovative research in orthopedics."

The agreement lays out the next steps planned for the multi-year collaboration focusing on quality management and outcomes. The two organizations will establish a Quality Advisory Council to provide oversight to set priorities and monitor progress. In addition to identifying research priorities, initiatives will offer continued assessment, education and training through fellowships and continuing education programs in both countries as well as digital education through HSS e-University.

"We are proud and excited to continue this strong relationship," said Casio Zandona, CEO/RJ for Amil Par. "Hospital for Special Surgery is the ideal partner for this initiative with their expertise and outstanding reputation in orthopedics, especially in sports medicine. The planned educational outreach outlined in the agreement will offer major benefits to physicians and health professionals throughout Brazil and beyond."

"For the initial phase, a key focus will involve development of staff and identification of eight quality initiatives," explained Laura Robbins, DSW, senior vice president of Education and Academic Affairs, Hospital for Special Surgery, who is charged with administering the collaborative relationship. These initiatives include quality management, patient flow, perioperative services, nursing, rehabilitation, length of stay, discharge protocols and basic research.

The two organizations began to collaborate in early 2012 with programming that included assessments, observational visits and an international orthopedics symposium held in Brazil in November that brought Special Surgery experts in sports medicine, joint replacement, spine surgery and rehabilitation to speak before a region-wide invited medical audience.

U.S. health insurer UnitedHealth Group Inc announced in October 2012 that it will buy control of Amil Par (Amil Participacoes SA) for $4.9 billion, making a bold move into a fast-growing market. In making the announcement, UnitedHealth executives noted that the Brazilian healthcare market had been bolstered by a growing middle class and was turning to managed care to meet demand. They went on to note that it is expected to grow twice as fast as the U.S. market.

About Hospital for Special Surgery
Founded in 1863, Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS) is a world leader in orthopedics, rheumatology and rehabilitation. HSS is nationally ranked No. 1 in orthopedics, No. 3 in rheumatology, No. 10 in neurology and No. 5 in geriatrics by U.S. News & World Report (2012-13), and is the first hospital in New York State to receive Magnet Recognition for Excellence in Nursing Service from the American Nurses Credentialing Center three consecutive times. HSS has one of the lowest infection rates in the country. From 2007 to 2011, HSS has been a recipient of the HealthGrades Joint Replacement Excellence Award. HSS is a member of the NewYork-Presbyterian Healthcare System and an affiliate of Weill Cornell Medical College and as such all Hospital for Special Surgery medical staff are faculty of Weill Cornell. The hospital's research division is internationally recognized as a leader in the investigation of musculoskeletal and autoimmune diseases. Hospital for Special Surgery is located in New York City and online at www.hss.edu.

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SOURCE Hospital for Special Surgery