Even with tighter margins, staffing issues and declining reimbursements throughout the orthopedic industry, this surgeon is not budging on his approach to surgical innovation.
According to Rick Cunningham, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Vail-Summit (Colo.) Orthopedics and Neurosurgery, the onus of continued innovation is on the physician even with outside pressures.
Dr. Cunningham recently connected with Becker’s to share why his approach has not changed in the current orthopedic landscape.
Note: Dr. Cunningham’s response was lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: How is your approach to surgical innovation evolving amid tighter margins, staffing shortages and payer pressure?
Dr. Rick Cunningham: I honestly do not think the pressures we are facing have yet impacted my approach to surgical innovation. I think surgeons feel it is incumbent on us to continue to innovate and learn so that we can offer patients the best possible surgical treatments. Orthopedic surgeons have close ties to our colleagues in industry, and it is often through this relationship with industry that we have help innovating.
