MOUNT AIRY, NC – Dr. Robyn Hakanson, Orthopaedic Surgeon, was presented with the Physician Innovator of the Year Award on Tuesday, January 6, 2015 by Medtronic Advanced Energy. Dr. Hakanson is the first orthopaedic “blood management” doctor for Northern Medical Group – Orthopaedics and is only the second recipient of the Physician Innovator of the Year Award out of a national group of orthopaedic surgeons. Dr. Hakanson presented her poster, The Economic Impact of a Comprehensive Clinical and Surgical Blood Management Program for Primary Total Joint Arthroplasty in a Community Hospital, in 2013 at the American Association of Blood Banks (AABB) annual meeting.
Dr. Hakanson commended the Joint Replacement team and the staff of Northern Hospital and Northern Medical Group – Orthopaedics for all their hard work and contributions to the success of the program. “As surgeons we are constantly looking for ways to improve the patient experience of surgery, but to also stop the rapid rise of medical costs,” stated Hakanson. “Blood Management is a program that begins when the decision for surgery is made as my team and I work to optimize a patient’s pre-operative hemoglobin (blood count) through healthy eating, vitamins, and occasionally medication, and continues through the surgery and into the post-operative period as we strive to have a healthier patient and reduce or eliminate the need for a blood transfusion.” A plaque and letter of recognition was presented to Dr. Hakanson by Chevelle Haley, Regional Business Director, Southern Tide Region, on behalf of the Medtronic Advanced Energy President, Suzanne Foster. Other representatives from Medtronic in attendance for the presentation were Constance Squibb, Clinical Education Manager, and Charlotte Raciboski, Account Manager.
Greg Schulz, VP- Physician Network & Executive Director SRHS, Inc. was also in attendance for the presentation and extended his congratulations. “I am proud of Dr. Hakanson’s Physician Innovator Award. Dr. Hakanson’s work in the area of blood conservation during orthopaedic surgery is an outstanding example of the high caliber of care that is provided by her and the orthopaedic team at Northern Medical Group and Northern Hospital.” Based on data collected less than two percent of Dr.
Hakanson’s primary total joint replacement patients required a transfusion after surgery which meant less risk, better outcomes, a shorter hospital stay and healthier patients overall.
Dr. Robyn Hakanson is a fellowship-trained orthopaedic surgeon and a fellow in the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. She received her medical training at the Duke University School of Medicine and the Insall Scott Kelly Institute in New York, NY, in a fellowship for adult reconstruction and sports medicine. She currently serves as the Medical Director of the Northern Hospital Joint Replacement Program and the Orthopaedic Patient Care Management team and is a founding member of the non- profit organization Women’s Orthopaedic Global Outreach (WOGO). Dr. Hakanson and her husband Erik reside in Mount Airy with their three children.
Northern Medical Group – Orthopaedics provides comprehensive orthopaedic care ranging from sports medicine, joint replacement, hand, wrist and elbow, foot and ankle surgery, shoulder surgery and pediatric orthopaedics. They are conveniently located at 314 S. South Street Suite 100, Mount Airy, NC 27030 in the same center as Northern Rehab, a department of Northern Hospital, to offer access to physical and occupational therapy. To schedule an appointment at Northern Medical Group- Orthopaedics, call 336-719-0011
