Participation in AJRR an important first step
In 2013, ThedaCare began participating in The American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR). It’s an initiative fostered in part by Mark Thiel, system value stream director of development for Spine and Orthopedics, who also was selected as one of AJRR’s Champions of the Quarter last year.
“With the aging population and the growing prevalence of hip and knee replacement procedures, we believe AJRR has the ability to help us measure important outcomes,” Thiel said. “At a more global level, it allows the nation to improve research and subsequent delivery of joint replacement care.”
ThedaCare submits monthly data from all five of its hospitals to the joint replacement registry. “It helps us further our improvement efforts and tell customers and potential patients our story,” said Thiel, who worked directly with the AJRR to learn about data submission requirements and to coordinate the action plan and team of analysts to deliver on those requirements.
AJRR is working on a more robust data set for the future — one that will allow even greater analysis of the factors that impact quality outcomes with joint replacements. “It’s my goal to have ThedaCare participate as one of the pilot sites for collecting and submitting this additional data,” Thiel said.
He’s not alone in his efforts. Other key influencers at ThedaCare include Ken Kleist, MD, David Conrad, MD, and Jack Lindstrom, MD.
“It’s an opportunity for us to understand what’s working and not working in the field of joint replacement on a macro level,” said Thiel. “The data we submit will influence clinical best practice, new technology, and advancements in the practice of joint replacement.”
