Between tightening reimbursements, rising operating costs and new technologies, orthopedic leaders are working to deliver quality care while preserving financial and professional stability.
Here are five trends keeping orthopedic surgeons up:
1. Inflation and reimbursement headwinds: Orthopedic practices are feeling the squeeze as inflation drives up staffing, equipment and facility costs as reimbursement stagnates.
Leaders say payers haven’t adjusted to the new economics of care delivery, making it harder to retain talent and invest in innovation.
John Brady, CEO of Fox Valley (Ill.) Orthopedics told Becker’s that payers must better align reimbursement with today’s cost realities: “As we move into more pay-for-value, it will be critical to maintain high-quality staff who can help us deliver the best care possible. This comes at a cost, and payers are going to have to recognize the changing economics and reimburse accordingly.”
2. Physician health and longevity pressures: Faced with the demands of long surgical days and complex technology setups, orthopedic and spine surgeons’ own health has come into focus.
Ergonomics, radiation exposure and overall well-being are becoming central to conversations about career longevity. Improvements in navigation and augmented reality could reduce strain and protect the long-term health of surgeons and their teams, leaders told Becker’s.
3. The outpatient migration puzzle: The shift of orthopedic procedures to ASCs is accelerating, offering lower costs and shorter recovery times. But that transition brings new operational and payer hurdles, from capital investment to staffing and contracting complexity.
Growing recognition of ASCs as high-quality sites of care is reshaping the field.
“Patients want access to ASCs and understand they can receive high-quality, convenient care without having to deal with the hospital setting,” Mr. Brady told Becker’s. “This will lead to payer preference due to the greater efficiency and cost-effectiveness of ASC operations.”
4. Technology’s promise — and the evidence gap: AI, robotics and navigation systems are reshaping orthopedic surgery, promising greater precision and efficiency. Yet many physicians remain cautious about long-term outcomes and return on investment.
Early adopters see improved implant accuracy and workflow insights, but clinical benefits and cost savings are still under review.
5. Consolidation and shifting practice models: Private equity investment, hospital acquisitions and employment shifts have redefined orthopedic practice structures. To keep up, independent groups are weighing how to scale while preserving autonomy, and employed surgeons are navigating new productivity and referral dynamics.As consolidation threatens clinical control, collaboration is proving necessary to compete in a data-driven, value-based marketplace.
