Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care

Q: What is The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care?
A: In September 2009, partnering with Holy Cross Hospital, William Leone, MD, and his team opened the doors to The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care. The Center emphasizes personalized, high-level patient care while respecting patients’ time, dignity and peace of mind. Excellent clinical results are the priority and the standard. Dr. Leone knows that this is what patients need and want.

Dr. Leone is an orthopedic surgeon who has specialized in hip and knee replacement surgery and has been practicing at Holy Cross Hospital for more than 20 years. He is a member of the Holy Cross Medical Group and the Orthopedic Institute. He has built a reputation for helping patients solve complex problems associated with their hips and knees. He also has helped Holy Cross build a nationally recognized orthopedic program garnering numerous awards, including U.S. News & World Report’s “One of America’s Best Hospitals for Orthopedics” in 2008 and 2009. He has personally been recognized with awards for his clinical expertise and by patients and their families for his skill and compassion. Castle Connolly Medical Ltd., a health care research firm, named Dr. Leone a “Top Orthopedic Surgeon” in 2010 and 2011.

Q: Where is The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care located?
A: The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care patient consultations and exams take place in The Leone Center’s beautiful, stand-alone office located at Holy Cross Hospital’s HealthPlex. The HealthPlex is located at 1000 NE 56th Street in Fort Lauderdale.

Surgeries and post-surgical care take place at Holy Cross Hospital, which is located at 4725 North Federal Highway in Fort Lauderdale.

William Leone, MD

Q: How many surgeries does Dr. Leone perform each year?
A: Dr. Leone’s practice focuses exclusively on hip and knee replacement and reconstructive surgery. He has performed more than 500 to 600 joint replacements consistently per year over the past ten years. (Click here to read more about Dr. Leone’s surgical volume)

An orthopedic surgeon who performs a very high number of a particular type of surgery has created tried and true systems and teams. Surgery often goes smoother and takes less time. This is important because there will be less chance of wound contamination when an incision is open to the environment for less time. If a surgery moves along faster, your leg will be in awkward positions for less time. This may result in a lower incidence of deep venous thrombosis (DVT), which is a condition in which a blood clot forms in a vein that is deep inside the body.

Moving along efficiently does not equate to rushing. A surgeon who performs a high number of surgeries may see nuances and be able to handle the unexpected more aptly than a surgeon who is not as experienced.

Q: What is Dr. Leone’s infection rate?
A: Premier, a company that collects and compares health care data, found that from October 2007 (which is the earliest date we began receiving this data from Premier) through December 2010, Dr. Leone’s patients who had surgery experienced fewer complications and readmissions and had less than the average length of stay in the hospital and costs than other specialty peer orthopedic doctors.

An infection after a total joint replacement is a very big deal and must be prevented. If the infection is deep or below the fascia, then the artificial joint is also contaminated. Further surgery will be needed, and very possibly, the prosthetic joint will need to be removed. The infection will be treated with antibiotics, and hopefully, a new joint can be re-implanted with yet another surgery if the infection is cured.

Q: What is Dr. Leone’s incidence of short-term complications? (i.e. dislocations, wound problems, blood clots, or need for manipulation)?
A: Dr. Leone’s incidence of all these complications has been remarkably low.

Together, Dr. Leone, a respected surgeon and clinician, with Holy Cross Hospital, named “One of America’s Best Hospitals for Orthopedics” by U.S. NEWS & World Report in 2008 and 2009, provide an optimal and safe setting for hip and knee surgery. Castle Connolly Ltd., a health care research firm, named Dr. Leone one of Florida’s “Top Orthopedic Surgeons” for 2010 and 2011.

Dr. Leone attributes his high incidence of excellent results coupled with a low complication rate to his hands-on approach and attention to detail. All surgeries are performed personally by him. His teams – both in the operating room and out – are mature and stable, and many members of these teams have worked with Dr. Leone for nearly his entire 20-year career.

Q: What is Dr. Leone’s incidence of long-term complications (i.e. infection, loosening, prosthesis breakage, leg length inequality, residual limp, or nerve damage)?
A: Dr. Leone has built his reputation by his patients referring their family and friends over past twenty years. He has remained at one location (Fort Lauderdale) and in one hospital (Holy Cross Hospital) perfecting his abilities and results over this period. Premier has now formally recognized and published his superior results. Most importantly, patient after patient have encouraged people who they care about to come and see Dr. Leone.

Low infection rates, minimal complications, and successful outcomes are more assured by Dr. Leone’s techniques, including:

· Laminar flow operating theaters and the isolation of the surgical team via body exhaust suits.

· Surgical incisions are meticulously closed with a single stitch rather than staples, resulting in a tighter wound seal; and a special sterile dressing that “breathes” is applied during surgery. The result is an incision that looks like it was closed by a plastic surgeon. It also reflects the attention to detail underneath the incision.

· Surgical techniques to specifically address optimal and gentle soft tissue handling and balancing in hip and knee replacement using a pelvic alignment level instrument invented by Dr. Leone, robotics, and computer navigation.

· Dr. Leone’s surgical teams which have worked together for years, thereby greatly improving the safety and efficiencies of the procedure.

Q: How long has Dr. Leone used his current hip/knee prosthesis, and what are his reasons for having selected it?
A: To get the best and most reproducible results from any system or prosthesis, it must be used and studied repeatedly. Change is appropriate when it truly improves and can be shown to be safe and long lasting. When Dr. Leone places a particular prosthesis in a patient’s hip or knee, he knows from personal experience and from the experience of others which has been reported in the literature, that it has had a great track record and is appropriate for you.

Concierge Medicine Program for Medicare Patients

Q: I have heard that Dr. Leone is no longer seeing Medicare beneficiaries. Is this true?
A: No. Dr. Leone will continue to care for Medicare beneficiaries as part of a new concierge medicine program.

Q: When is this transition taking place?
A: October 1, 2009

Q: What does “opting out of Medicare” mean?
A: Dr. Leone has opted out of the Medicare program. This means that Dr. Leone’s services will be available to Medicare beneficiaries under a private pay arrangement and will be billed to patients directly as fee for services.

Please understand that Medicare-eligible services associated with hip or knee replacement, including hospitalization in Holy Cross Hospital, prosthetic costs, anesthesia, first assistant, radiology, physical therapy, home health services, and supplies will continue to be billed to Medicare. Dr. Leone’s fee will not be covered by Medicare.

Q: Why is Dr. Leone opting out of Medicare?
A: Many physicians, including Dr. Leone, feel constrained by current Medicare rules. Reimbursement seems to be based on quantity of care rather than quality of care, often leading to practices with a very high volume of patients who may feel frustrated with long wait times and less contact with the doctor.

Dr. Leone’s hope is that with this new model, he and his team will be able to provide an even higher level of care. Our priority will be to spend more time with our patients to ensure a more consistently pleasant experience and successful outcome. Our priority is to respect your time, your dignity, and your peace of mind.

Q: How is the Concierge Medicine Program for Medicare Patients going to work?
A: The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care will continue to treat Medicare beneficiaries. Dr. Leone’s services will be available to Medicare beneficiaries under a private pay arrangement and will be billed to patients directly as fee for services. Patient care will be coordinated by a Leone Center for Orthopedic Care nurse liaison and patient liaison from start to finish. We will emphasize respecting our patient’s time, dignity, and peace of mind while achieving the best possible results.

Medicare-eligible services associated with hip or knee replacement, including hospitalization in Holy Cross Hospital, prosthetic costs, anesthesia, first assistant, radiology, physical therapy, home health services, and supplies will be billed to Medicare.

Q: What are the options for the Concierge Medicine Program for Medicare Patients?
A: Dr. Leone’s services will be available to Medicare beneficiaries under a private pay arrangement and will be billed to patients directly as fee for services. Dr. Leone and his team have developed a concierge program that will emphasize respecting your time, dignity, and peace of mind while achieving the best results possible.

If you are a Medicare beneficiary or have private, non-Medicare insurance, you may choose from the following options for your concierge package. Rates are available by contacting the Leone Center for Orthopedic Care at 954 489-4575. For Medicare beneficiaries, if surgery has been recommended, your consultation fee will be applied to your concierge package.

Option 1 for Medicare Beneficiaries:

· Initial Consultation with Dr. Leone

· MD Fee for Basic Total Hip or Total Knee

· Nurse and Patient Liaison

· Streamlined Pre-Registration for Surgery

· Medical Record on CD

· Referral and certificate to Florida Aquatic Therapy & Exercise

Option 2 for Medicare Beneficiaries:

· All Benefits offered in Option 1

· Private Room for Three nights

· VIP Meals (Includes three patient meals and one guest tray per day)
· Three-Month Membership to Zachariah Family Wellness Pavilion (Includes two private appointments with an exercise physiologist to customize a post-surgery exercise program just for you.)

Dr. Leone’s fee may increase for hip or knee revision surgery or a particularly complex primary surgery. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis and after your first consultation with Dr. Leone.

If you require the replacement of both of your hips or knees at the same time, Dr. Leone’s fee will be less for the second side.

Option 3 for Patients with Private, Non-Medicare Insurance:

Designed for patients with private, non-Medicare insurance, this option includes:

· Nurse and Patient Liaison

· Pre-Registration for Surgery

· Private Room for Three Nights

· VIP Meals (Includes three patient meals and one guest tray per day)
· Medical Record on CD

· Referral and Certificate to Florida Aquatic Therapy & Exercise

Q: Why should I participate in this Program? What are the benefits to me?
A: Under this new model of care, benefits to the patient include:

· Increased availability to Dr. Leone and The Leone Center staff.

· Personalized care from an experienced orthopedic surgeon who is recognized as an innovator who uses the latest technology and techniques. Dr. Leone has built his reputation over 20 years by creating both consistently excellent results and relationships with his patients.

· Admission to Holy Cross Hospital, which was ranked as “One of America’s Best Hospitals for Orthopedics” by U.S. NEWS & World Report in 2008 and 2009. In addition, the Hospital is recognized as a Nurse Magnet™ facility by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, which provides consumers with the ultimate benchmark to measure the quality of nursing care they can expect to receive. This designation is awarded to less than two percent of hospitals in the United States.

· A guaranteed appointment in two weeks or less and minimal appointment wait time.

· Access to a new, beautiful concierge office space at the Holy Cross HealthPlex.

· An option for a private room at Holy Cross Hospital with VIP meals and increased services.

· A CD with personal medical records post-surgery.

· A post-surgery wellness program.

Q: What if I cannot afford Dr. Leone’s fee?
A: We recognize that there will be some people who will not be able to afford Dr. Leone’s fee, a fact that made this decision very difficult for him. There are many capable orthopedic surgeons available within the Holy Cross Orthopedic Group, and we will be happy to make arrangements for you to see one of these physicians.

Q: When is the money due for surgery?
A: Payment for one of the concierge plans is due before surgery, and our patient liaison is available to discuss payment options with you.

Q: Are there discounts available if I need both knees and hips replaced, for example?
A: Yes. If you require a replacement of your left and right hip or knee at the same time, Dr. Leone’s fee will be less for the second side.

Q: What if my case is complicated? Will I have to pay more?
A: Possibly. Dr. Leone’s fee may increase for hip or knee revision surgery or a particularly complex primary surgery. This will be determined on a case-by-case basis and after your first consultation with Dr. Leone.

Q: What if I change my mind? Will I get my money back?
A: Yes. If you have already paid your fee and decide to not have surgery, your payment will be refunded. This does not include the consultation fee ($250 for new patients and $150 for returning patients). We are here for you if you decide to revisit The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care for your surgery.

Q: What if the surgery doesn’t work or go well? Will I get my money back?
A: Sometimes, despite everyone’s best effort, complications occur. Pain may continue, or there may be a less-than-perfect result. This, unfortunately, is the nature of medicine. Dr. Leone and his team will do everything possible to assure an excellent result – they are committed to doing the right thing. If there is a complication within the first three months after surgery, Dr. Leone will do his best to help resolve it without further charge.

Q: Is Dr. Leone doing this for the money?
A: No. Dr. Leone’s decision to offer this concierge plan to Medicare patients is driven by his desire to provide a higher level of care and to personalize your experience with us.

Q: Why should I have surgery with Dr. Leone when another doctor will still operate on me and accept my Medicare insurance?
A: Dr. Leone’s hope is that you will choose The Leone Center for Orthopedic Care because he believes that his patients have the best chance for a great outcome and positive experience. The Leone Center team goes above and beyond to exceed their patients’ expectation, and Dr. Leone is happy to provide you with whatever information you need to make an informed decision.

Q: Is Dr. Leone going to opt out of private insurance plans next?
A: Dr. Leone may opt out of some private insurance plans at some point in the future.

Contact Us

Call 954-489-4575 or fill out our

I am writing this memoir to you on this day and date with great appreciation and gratitude for giving me this miraculous reason to celebrate life.

A SECOND ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

M.S.