Olof Strömmer
Being able to perform surgery efficiently and with the highest precision is an art, something that Olof Strömmer, 53 years old and specialized prosthetic surgeon, masters to the full. With over 1,000 operations per year, he is not only one of Sweden’s most experienced in his field, but also an advocate for innovation and efficiency
in healthcare.
– “Prosthetic surgery is the most black and white thing in medicine. Either there is indication, or it istn’t. Therefore, it is also optimal for streamlining processes,” he says.
Olof has worked exclusively with prosthetic surgery for the past 15 years and performs knee and hip replacements at Aleris Orthopedics, Nacka Hospital in Stockholm. His work methodology is based on clear, step-by-step routines that reduce the time for surgical trauma – and thus also the risk of complications such as infections. Olof contributes a lot with ideas about how to improve efficiency outside and inside the operating room. The times he spends on each operation is very short.
– “I don’t do surgeries faster for the sake of it. It should be as good or better than traditional methods. For sensitive patients, shorter time on the operating table can make a big difference in recovery and reduced medical risk.”
Inspiration from elite sports and international methods
Olof Strömmer describes his work as similar to elite sports – there are always small improvements to be made. His inspiration comes from the US and Australia, among others, where efficiency and specialization are highly prioritized.
– “In Sweden, the system is different. Here it’s often about balancing the entire personnel situation, which means that my ideas are not always taken into account.”
The frustration with the limitations of the healthcare system is something he is open about. The dream of starting his own clinic to fully apply his methods has existed for a long time, but it requires financiers who share his vision.
This is a controversial method, even though it shortens the time the patient is exposed to surgical trauma, which, among other things, reduces the risk of infection, and increases efficiency, which allows more patients to be operated on.
Innovative technology and “own” method of knee replacement
An important part of Olof’s effectiveness lies in his innovative surgical technique, especially in half knee replacements. He has combined older and newer methods to simplify the process, which includes skipping certain steps without compromising on quality.
– “It’s like assembling IKEA furniture. Once you’ve done it many times, you find shortcuts that make everything go smoother.”
Collaboration with Reison Medical for even better products
At Aleris Orthopedics, Nacka Hospital, several of Reison’s products are being used, among others armrests and support rollers.
A specific project that Olof Strömmer is involved in together with Reison Medical is the development of a narrower thigh support, which he believes is crucial to guarantee the best possible results in knee surgery. For the staff and for his sake, the leg must lie straight at all times and for the leg to hang straight, the roller must be narrow enough.
– “The roll has to be narrow enough for the leg to lie correctly throughout the procedure. This product is completely in line with my concept – simple and high quality.”
For Olof Strömmer, surgery is not just a job but an opportunity to constantly improve and develop care. His goal is to show that it is possible to think and work differently – something he hopes will inspire more people in healthcare to dare to invest in innovation and efficiency.