Thursday 20 November 2008

Zero MRSA or Patient Infections Reported After Two Years as D.I.S.C. Sports and Spine Center Sets New Standard for Specialty Hospitals

D.I.S.C. Sports and Spine Center, proudly announces its surgical center is "infection free" after an initial two years of operation where over 2,000 procedures have been performed, according to Dr. Robert S. Bray Jr., founding director and CEO. This outpatient specialty hospital has taken a variety of proactive measures to reduce the risk of infection along with instituting very stringent protocols and procedures to ensure the safety of the patients.

Marina del Rey, Calif. (Vocus) November 20, 2008 -- D.I.S.C. Sports and Spine Center proudly announces its surgical center remains "infection free" which includes the highly-virulent bacteria MRSA. This is after two years of operation with over 2,000 procedures performed and extremely proactive measures implemented to combat infection according to Dr. Robert S. Bray Jr., founding director and CEO. In a study released in 2007, the CDC estimated there were 4.5 hospital infections for every 100 patient admissions resulting in nearly 100,000 deaths. With the increased resistance to infection-fighting drugs, especially the potent MRSA bacteria, these figures are alarming.

"Our goal from day was to redefine how patient care was delivered and we are extremely proud of how our hard work has paid off by minimizing the risk of patient infections," Dr. Bray said. "This is a highly-significant accomplishment and we are extremely proud of our achievement. We have proven through a comprehensive and strategic plan that our procedures, protocols and technologies can have a dramatic impact in ensuring patient safety and saving lives."

The outpatient specialty hospital is a fully-integrated medical group featuring next generation diagnostics, conservative care and a state-of-art surgical center. With three digital ORs, D.I.S.C. specializes in minimally invasive outpatient spine procedures including fusion, motion preservation, lumbar reconstruction and microdiscectomy along with orthopedic procedures including joint replacement, cartilage preservation and reconstruction.

With the explicit goal of minimizing the risk of infection in the 7,200-square foot surgery center, Dr. Bray made a strategic decision to install a $750,000 environmental air conditioning system throughout the entire center. Special attention was given to the three ultra clean operating rooms installing individual true 99.71% efficient HEPA filters to further eliminate any comingling of bacteria. With 30 air exchanges/per hour this filter exceeds the industry standard.

As an added level of protection, D.I.S.C. installed UVC Emitters (ultraviolet) in all critical area air moving units to destroy incoming airborne germs, bacteria and microorganisms including the highly-lethal anthrax. This level of protection is unprecedented in a medical facility and is the same type of system used by the CDC in Atlanta.

Moreover, very stringent policies were developed to address the basic functioning and hygiene of the surgery center. These protocols encompass patient contact, hand washing, outside clothing regulations along with minimal use of catheters. D.I.S.C. has also begun pre-screening high-risk patients for MRSA.

"When I founded D.I.S.C., I made a commitment to our patients to provide a higher standard of care," Bray said. "We will continue to be vigilant, pro-active and do everything in our power to ensure the safety of our patients and staff in all situations."

About Dr. Robert S. Bray, Jr.: Dr. Robert S. Bray, Jr. is widely recognized as one of the world's preeminent neurological spine surgeons. The first California neurosurgeon to specialize in minimally invasive procedures, he is at the forefront of the revolutionary innovations taking place in this highly skilled field. With numerous patents and inventions to his credit, he is committed to reducing surgical trauma to the patient, with better mobilization and faster, less painful recovery times. His illustrious career has spanned 27 years, with more than 9,000 micro procedures performed and 27 Fellows trained. A graduate of Baylor School of Medical School, he rose to the rank a major in the US Air Force and was the chief of neurosurgery at the David Grant Medical Center. In 2002, he became the founding director of the Institute for Spinal Disorders at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. Under his leadership, it grew into the one of the premier spine centers in the U.S.

About D.I.S.C. Sports and Spine Center: Dr. Bray founded D.I.S.C. Sports and Spine Center in Marina del Rey, Calif., with the vision of developing a new model for delivering comprehensive health care for sports medicine, orthopedic and spine ailments. Offering both established and innovative solutions, D.I.S.C. is distinguished by a multi-disciplinary approach conveniently housed in one location, offering an unmatched continuity of care. With more than 20 board certified physicians, D.I.S.C. provides next generation diagnostics, preventative, conservative and rehabilitative care, along with one of the country’s most advanced surgical centers specializing in minimally invasive spine procedures and advanced arthroscopic techniques, D.I.S.C. is the Official Medical Center of the Los Angeles Kings, Los Angeles Clippers and USA Volleyball, For more information please contact D.I.S.C. at (310) 574-0400 or visit their website at: www.discmdgroup.com.

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