
Tarmo Martikainen
Chief Executive Officer
The Coxa Hospital for Joint Replacement (Finland)
16 years experience in various positions of automotive industry working various positions of procurement, supply chain, factory management and the last 3 years as managing director of Pilkington Automotive Finland Oy responsible of organization of 1200 employee. Also had opportunity to work in US almost 2 years responsible for global best practises and productivity improvement of value ad. operations. Since 2009 managing director of Coxa Oy in Tampere, Finland , the largest joint replacement hospital in Nordic countries focusing in high quality, cost effective elective joint replacement surgeries.
Coxa Hospital for Joint Replacement (Finland)
The need for joint replacement surgery is growing constantly for instance due to population ageing.
Joint replacement hospital Coxa Oy brings top class surgical expertise to the public sector services. This operating model has proven to be lucrative, in addition to which it can be replicated in different special areas of medical science.
"Coxa's unique, so-called focus-hospital model focuses on a specific and narrow medical specialty, which is mastered excellently both qualitatively and expenditure-wise. This is based on the factor, that we are able to focus specifically in taking our own process effectively through, and on the development of our specific expertise", tells CEO Tarmo Martikainen.
Established in 2001, Coxa acts as a subcontractor in producing joint replacement surgery for its own local hospital district, according to its annual service agreement. It also offers the most challenging surgical services available nation-wide. Surgeries are also performed on patients that pay for their own treatment.
Through accumulated experience, the model according to which Tampere-based Coxa works has proven to be eligible for replication. Interest has arisen both in Finland and overseas. For instance the Tampere-based full service cardiac care facility, Sydänkeskus Oy, which opened its doors in the beginning of 2010, is focused on the holistic treatment of the heart region.
Good results
The functionality of Coxa's model is based on effective treatment processes and high utilization rate. Quality is worth the focus. The annual number of joint replacement surgeries carried out by one doctor at Coxa equals to the number of operations carried out by an entire group of surgeons of many hospitals.
The process-like nature of Coxa's operation reduces inpatient hospital days significantly, and through that also costs and complications. For instance, compared to international standards, at Coxa the number of infections and repeat surgeries is exceptionally low.
"These results have been achieved with an effective treatment process and through deepening our expertise. Patient feedback has also been extremely positive. We guide and encourage our patients to take part in independent rehabilitation", says Martikainen.
Steady growth
Also Coxa's personnel appear content.
"Our employees like the concept, because it offers us the possibility to develop into top experts in our chosen field, and work with a cutting-edge team of similar experts, Martikainen highlights.
Based on the annual number of surgeries performed at Coxa, the hospital is Finland's number one. In 2009 a total of 2647 surgeries were performed at Coxa while 2010 shows 7 percent growth compared to the previous year. "We believe that the concept according to which our patients receive excellent quality of medical care and our taxpayers a cost-efficient treatment model, has come to Finland to stay."
Also Coxa's premises are well equipped for steady growth. "The future looks promising. We are on the lookout to expand overseas as well".
www.coxa.fi