Written by Bloom Magazine
We had the opportunity to sit down with Jim Needham, CEO of The Orthopaedic Institute, to discuss The Orthopaedic Institute's dedication to helping injured workers get back to their jobs. When asked about the recognition as the best work comp doctors in 2022, Jim said, "We are honored to receive this accolade. It's a testament to the skill, expertise, and dedication of our physicians and staff in helping injured workers return to work safely."
The Orthopaedic Institute has 10 locations and 5 Express Ortho locations across Lake City, Alachua, Gainesville, Ocala, West Marion, the Villages, and Crystal Springs/Inverness, making it easy for injured workers to access top-quality care. The practice has a dedicated Workers' Compensation Department available 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday to provide prompt service and effective communication. Employers can trust that their workers will receive the best treatment and support to help them return to work safely and efficiently.
The Orthopaedic Institute is dedicated to improving the health and activity of the communities they serve. Their expertise and commitment to patient care make them the best in their field. The practice's physicians and staff are WorkCompReady™ certified and offer a range of services for musculoskeletal injuries, including fracture care, minor suturing and plastic surgery, MRI testing, and ongoing treatment and follow-up for non-surgical patients. They also provide referrals to specialists, physical therapy, and a durable medical equipment dispensary program. In addition, the Orthopaedic Institute is committed to completing DWC-25 forms, granting MMI and PIR as soon as possible, and offering drug testing at their Alachua and Lake City locations.
Jim shared The Orthopaedic Institute's vision of continuing to grow and serve communities in need of their expert care. "Our mission is to provide the best outcomes for our patients. We are committed to putting their needs first, helping those in need, and providing access to the best healthcare," he said. The practice's culture is sympathetic, with attention to patient needs, teamwork to help each other, and a commitment to working together for the best possible outcome.
Their focus on workers' compensation means that they are constantly striving to improve and enhance their skills in this area. The doctors at The Orthopaedic Institute attend conferences and meetings to learn more about the unique processes, timelines, and paperwork associated with workers' compensation beyond just the patient's care needs. Additionally, they go through intensive training to further enhance their skills and stay up-to-date on the latest best practices in order to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the organization's operations. We hope you enjoy reading the rest of the interview with Jim Needham, and learning more about the The Orthopaedic Institute's commitment to providing high-quality care for workers' compensation patients.
What is your leadership philosophy?
Patient are our customers. Physicians are our heroes. The rest of us are here to make both satisfied with their experience and give them the support they need.
What's the story behind the practice? How did the practice begin?
The practice was started decades ago by a handful of physicians that shared a philosophy of great patient care, sharing best practices and providing a well-rounded group of physicians that could address all orthopedic issues under one-roof.
What are the practice's vision, mission, values, and culture?
Our vision is to continue to grow into markets that could use our services to improve the health and activity of that community. Our mission is to serve our patients to the best of our ability and provide the best outcomes possible. Our values are patients first, utilizing our technology and training for maximized outcomes, helping those that need our help, and providing access to the best healthcare possible. Our culture is sympathetic, with attention to patient needs, teamwork to help each other, and working together for the best possible outcome.
What is your philosophy when treating injured workers?
Treating injuries is what we do. All patients want to improve their activity and minimize or eliminate pain. Most patients simply want to get active again. The unique difference with workers is that they are also trying to get back to work so they can take care of their own finances and those they are responsible for. So I don't believe the philosophy is different. There is just an added element to consider.
If you could only list three things, what would you say are the top three things that make your practice unique?
We have every specialty and subspecialty under 1 umbrella
We have many locations and service lines that TOI is convenient to everyone
We will do the best we can to help make things better
What is next for the practice? What are the goals for the practice?
We’ve had a great mission and vision since the beginning. We don’t have any aspirations of changing. What we have to do, and will always strive to do, is simply get better and better. We are on a never-ending journey to be viewed as the best musculoskeletal practice.
What strategies does your practice use to make sure you communicate your message to everyone involved?
The doctor-patient relationship is sacrosanct regardless of whether the injury happened on the job or not. Every patient is treated as an individual receiving a customized approach. Depending on the care needed, the right specialist will get involved. The patient will always be informed of their injury and best treatment plans. We know Case Managers have a tough job. They juggle so many balls in the air. We try our best to communicate with them directly when they attend office visits or through forms, paperwork, and medical record notes to give them the necessary information. We have a couple of dedicated services to WC. One includes our intake department and our WC liaisons. They act as our schedulers and work with the Case Managers and Adjusters through the process until MMI. We also have a dedicated revenue cycle team allowing specialization in WC to minimize claims issues.
Is there anything else that you would like to share regarding the practice?
We have 10 locations to serve injured workers spanning Lake City, Alachua, Gainesville, Ocala, West Marion, the Villages, and Crystal Springs/Inverness.
What is the best way to reach you and your staff?
TOI physicians have dedicated teams/staff to handle calls and inquiries to coordinate care and address any questions or concerns from adjusters/case managers.
Lake City, Alachua, Gainesville, Ocala, West Marion, the Villages, and Crystal Springs/Inverness
Workers Comp Department
T: (386) 518-6870
F: (352) 336-6046