Continuing with our series "Optimizing Opportunities," we're presenting an insightful email article featuring Dr. John W. McAllister. The focus is on the nuances of establishing strong patient relationships and achieving favorable outcomes.

Dr. McAllister, a member of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) and the Arthroscopy Association of North America (AANA), sheds light on his journey. He shares valuable insights specific to the importance of patient connection, the management of expectations, and his synergistic relationship with Surgery Partners.

A Series on Patients, Practices, and Physicians

Surgery Partners: How do you balance the needs of your patients, your practice, and your own well-being to drive successful outcomes?

Dr. John W. McAllister: Another doctor once told me that the satisfaction of the surgeon and quality of his life is inversely proportional to the number of infections he has in joint replacements. So, it’s important to do your best every time to avoid having too many complications.

SP: Can you share any lessons you’ve learned about connecting with patients and what matters to them, and how you continue to apply those lessons in your practice?

DJWM: Sit down; don’t stand when you get into a room. Look people in the eye, shake their hand, and listen to their story. Take the time to establish that connection—I think that’s among the most important things a physician can do.

SP: There have been studies showing very high satisfaction ratings with patients who underwent knee or joint procedures. What do you think are some of the reasons for this high satisfaction?

DJWM: You have to set expectations. If patients know things ahead of time, and you haven’t set unrealistic expectations, that will go a long way to help better patient-reporting outcomes. It’s even the little things. I tell my patients, “It’s not like your knee is going to feel like it was when you were 20. The replacements aren’t that good, but they’re pretty good. And it’ll be better than what you have.”

SP: How do you measure success, and what steps do you take to continuously improve?

DJWM: Outcomes are one way to measure success, but striking a balance is what’s most telling. As a young doctor, I worked really hard and missed too many things with my kids, so I'm catching up with the grandkids. That balance makes me happier and my practice more successful.

SP: What qualities do you attribute to patients seeking out your practice?

DJWM: Some of it is reputation; some of it’s about the little bits of humor and levity we try to bring to the office visit to make people feel special when they come in. We really try to emphasize feelings of joy and in our office, to make it a special occasion, or provide that quality of care like the Ritz Carlton. The little extra service from the front desk, the medical assistants, the x-ray techs—just our whole team. I’ve had a number of patients say, “This is the best office I've ever been in,” and “I've never had an experience like this,” and it’s very rewarding to hear that.

SP: You’ve invested in Surgery Partners. How satisfied are you with that partnership?

DJWM: Our relationship with Surgery Partners has been excellent. When we wanted to expand, grow and move into total joints, they were critical in helping us accomplish that. They’ve brought expertise to developing the surgery center, and the surgery center that we built exceeded everyone's expectations. It’s a great place to work, and it’s a beautiful space.

SP: What’s the best part about working with Surgery Partners?

DJWM: Surgery Partners hasn’t been telling us what we have to do; they’ve just been helping us do what we do really well.

Dr. McAllister is currently affiliated with Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Progress West Hospital, and is also a partial owner in St. Peters Surgery Center in St. Peter’s Missouri.