Portability of imaging fundamentally changed orthopedic surgery, says UCI Health expert
Surgeon Dr. Nitin Bhatia says innovation has improved care, physician quality of life
IN THE NEWS: The clinical innovations have improved physician quality of life and care delivery methods are numerous, but some are more heralded than others.
Dr. Nitin Bhatia, chief of UCI Health Orthopedic Surgery Services, spoke with Becker’s Spine Review about how accessing imaging studies on portable devices, such as smartphones and tablets, has been a game changer for surgeons.
“Orthopedic surgeons were once tied to their home desktop computer to view studies. In the even older days, they may have had to come into the hospital to view actual films at the hospital film library or emergency department — a practice which today’s training physicians likely could not comprehend, much like [operating] a rotary telephone.”
He also highlighted how technological innovation tied to clinical care has benefited patients.
“Orthopedic surgeons can now provide real-time input on cases worldwide, greatly enhancing patient care and physician quality of life.”
Bhatia is an internationally recognized specialist in spine surgery, spine trauma and spinal cord injuries. He is chair of the Department of Orthopedic Surgery at the UC Irvine School of Medicine.
He has expertise in all areas of spinal pathology, including adult and pediatric scoliosis, complex spine surgery, degenerative cervical disorders, thoracic and lumbar spine, minimally invasive spine surgery, orthopedic surgery (bone/joint/spine), robot-assisted spine surgery, spinal stenosis and spinal tumors. He is an author or co-author of numerous publications.
About UCI Health
UCI Health, one of California’s largest academic health systems, is the clinical enterprise of the University of California, Irvine. The 1,317-bed system comprises its main campus UCI Medical Center, its flagship hospital in Orange, Calif., the UCI Health — Irvine medical campus, four hospitals and affiliated physicians of the UCI Health Community Network in Orange and Los Angeles counties and a network of ambulatory care centers across the region. UCI Medical Center provides tertiary and quaternary care and is home to the only Orange County-based National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center, high-risk perinatal/neonatal program and American College of Surgeons-verified Level I adult and Level II pediatric trauma center, gold level 1 geriatric emergency department and regional burn center. Powered by UC Irvine, UCI Health serves 5.6 million people in Orange County, western Riverside County and southeast Los Angeles County. Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and X (formerly Twitter).