ASCs, technology, consolidation & more: The trends that are saving orthopedics
By Admin | May 07, 2022
The migration of outpatient procedures, consolidation under orthopedic supergroups and innovative technologies were among the top trends surgeons credited with saving the specialty.
Insight from 13 surgeons:
Editor's note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Nicholas Grosso, MD. President and Orthopedic Surgeon for the Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics (Bethesda, Md.): The question of what is "saving" orthopedics depends on your point of view. As a private practice orthopedic surgeon, I feel that orthopedics is being saved by the consolidation of independent private practice groups into large "supergroups."
By joining together, these groups can remain viable through the savings realized by the economies of scale, and they can stay competitive by having the resources to build the infrastructure necessary to navigate the rapidly changing healthcare landscape, including transitioning to more value-based payment models. By not allowing themselves to be purchased by a hospital system, or taking private equity investments, they retain the independence necessary to continue to practice the way they see fit without having to answer to outside investors. I also feel supergroups will be able to provide the most cost-efficient care in the market, making them attractive to large, self-insured employers and payers willing to enter into capitated arrangements for their musculoskeletal care. This was the motivation behind the development of the Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics nearly a decade ago.
Niranjan Kavadi, MD. Spine Surgeon in Oklahoma City: The most important trend at this time in healthcare saving orthopedics is the transition to outpatient surgical care whenever feasible. Traditionally, open musculoskeletal procedures have been associated with postoperative pain interfering with rehabilitation. Minimally invasive techniques to achieve excellent outcomes are evolving rapidly with an advantage of less surgical morbidity and quicker...(More)
For more info please read, ASCs, technology, consolidation & more: The trends that are saving orthopedics, by Becker's Spine Review
