Orthopedic surgeons have begun using patient-reported outcomes data to determine treatment plans and to assess patient progress, alongside traditional technology like X-rays, MRIs and CT scans.
Two recent studies in Journal of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons discussed the benefit of this technology. The researchers investigated outcomes associated with the National Institutes of Health's Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System. PROMIS — which has been validated in patient populations with ankle, foot, upper extremity and spine disorders — tracks patient symptoms over time and evaluates the impact of surgical and nonsurgical interventions.
Here's what you need to know:
1. The system collects real-time feedback from patients by asking patients to answer surveys in the physician's office. These patient responses are sent to a data warehouse for scoring and transmission to the physician.
2. These surveys might include questions related to pain, disability, function and overall quality of life. An individual patient's responses can be compared with other patient feedback about the same disease or injury, to help calibrate treatment expectations.
3. The system's goal is to facilitate joint decision-making between the physician and patient by allowing both parties convenient access to clinical progress and recovery data.