IU Health Reaches Deal With Medical Center

The largest health system in the state has connected with one of the nation's largest hand and upper extremity surgery centers to offer patients a wider range of options for their orthopedic care.

Indiana University Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine , one of the nation's top orthopedics programs according to U.S.News and World Report, recently entered into a long-term agreement with the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center , the second largest surgery center of its kind in the United States. Together, they will combine resources to provide adults and children with specialized orthopedic care of the hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder that spans the spectrum from elective to emergency surgeries.

"This collaboration enables us to provide our patients with a full spectrum of care for any condition of the bones, joints or muscles - from head to foot and, now, from shoulder to fingertip," said Lisa Brandt, system vice president of IU Health Orthopedics and Sports Medicine, a nationally ranked program that provides comprehensive joint, bone, spine and muscle care for adults and children.

Through the collaboration, specialists from the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center will provide professional medical, outpatient clinic and surgical services for patients at IU Health Methodist Hospital who have injuries and conditions involving the upper extremities - hand, wrist, elbow and shoulder. A few of the center's specialists currently occupy a space at the downtown Indianapolis hospital where they host clinic appointments for patients seeking consultation.

The agreement also joins the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center specialists with the orthopedic trauma team at the Level I Trauma Center at IU Health Methodist Hospital, one of the nation's busiest trauma centers. Beginning April 1, Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center surgeons will rotate on-call 24/7 coverage to provide emergency services to people who come to the trauma center with upper extremity injuries.

"For over 40 years, the mission of the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center has been to provide world-class shoulder, elbow, wrist and hand care to our community and beyond," said Robert M. Baltera, M.D., managing partner, Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center. "We are excited about the opportunity to offer our expertise to patients within the IU Health system."

About Indiana University Health
Named among the "Best Hospitals in America" by U.S.News & World Report for 15 consecutive years, Indiana University Health is dedicated to providing a unified standard of preeminent, patient-centered care. A unique partnership with Indiana University School of Medicine - one of the nation's leading medical schools - gives our highly skilled physicians access to innovative treatments using the latest research and technology.

About the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center 
The Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center, formerly known as the Indiana Hand Center, began in 1971 as a private hand surgery practice located near downtown Indianapolis. The Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center is committed to excellence in the treatment of the hand, as well as the wrist, elbow, and shoulder. Its physicians are patent-holders, authors, university professors, fellowship-trained and clinic instructors - all of whom have treated patients from across Indiana and throughout the United States. Now located on the northwest side of the city, the Indiana Hand to Shoulder Center is the largest free-standing facility of its kind in the world.