VCU news

By Carissa Etters

In the lobby of the new VCU Health Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Wellness Center on Tuesday night, more than 150 guests cheered as VCU leadership officially cut the ribbon for the new outpatient facility.

The N.O.W. Center, located just outside the Short Pump Town Center in Henrico County, focuses on human movement. The vision for the center is to restore motion and help patients with orthopedic and neuroscience illness not only survive, but thrive and optimize their personal potential. The new five-story building is 111,000 square feet with more than 80 exam rooms. It offers a unique model of care that is regionally focused and represents the future of interprofessional care delivery. The center is led by a trio of medical directors, Kevin Hoover, M.D., William Jiranek, M.D., and Bruce Mathern, M.D.

“The VCU Health Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Wellness Center is a new facility that brings together the physicians, staff and support services needed to optimize the ability of patients to move,” Hoover said. “The quality of the patient experience is at the center of our care model and drives our effort to shorten the time from initial patient contact to definitive management. By leveraging our tremendous depth of expertise, the commitment of our staff and advanced technology, we will measurably improve the quality of their care.”

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Much like the popular children’s song, “Dry Bones,” where the “hip bone is connected to the back bone,” the care team at the N.O.W. Center are also connected to one another. The interdisciplinary model offers many subspecialties in one location. The care is coordinated so patients can get everything they need in one day without having to set foot outside the building.

The interior design and functionality of the space is just as innovative as the technology used to support the interdisciplinary model. When guests enter the building, they walk into a space filled with warm colors and a variety of textures that are reflective of the musculoskeletal system. The actual experience is similar to that of checking into a hotel. At registration, patients are provided an exam room number. They also receive a color-coded map and a special badge that clips to their clothing. After registration, patients make their way directly to the assigned exam room. The badge, which is equipped with real-time locating software, tracks their progress and pings the care team once the patient is in the room and ready to be seen.

“I am proud of the N.O.W. Center and of its extraordinary providers who are setting the national standard of complex neuroscience, orthopedic and wellness issues,” said Michael Rao, Ph.D., president of Virginia Commonwealth University and VCU Health System, who spoke at the ribbon-cutting.

The N.O.W. Center is an investment in the future of VCU and the commonwealth we serve.

“The N.O.W. Center is an investment in the future of VCU and the commonwealth we serve,” Rao said.

The N.O.W. Center will help meet the needs of an aging population, including those who suffer from complex movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s is usually diagnosed around age 60 and statistics show an average of 60,000 people are diagnosed each year.

“As the leading health care system in the commonwealth, making health care accessible is part of our mission,” Rao said. “The N.O.W. Center is purposefully located in an area experiencing rapid population growth with diverse needs.”

Specialized medicine and expertise offered at the center include neurosurgery (pre- and post-surgical care), neurology, orthopedics, rheumatology, sports medicine, endocrinology and physical medicine and rehabilitation.

To make an appointment or learn more about the services offered at the VCU Health Neuroscience, Orthopaedic and Wellness Center, visit the center’s website at vcuhealthnowcenter.org.

 

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