Effective leadership and a team mindset will continue to be crucial at orthopedic practices, particularly as the field continues to deal with COVID-19, according to André Blom, CEO of Des Plaines-based Illinois Bone and Joint Institute.

OrthoLoneStar will celebrate its one-year anniversary in January and has plans to capitalize on the current healthcare climate by adding more clinical locations and bolstering its value-based care strategy.

Mark Vorherr became CEO of Cincinnati-based Mayfield Brain & Spine July 19. Since, he's launched several strategic initiatives, including a search for a chief strategy officer.

Many orthopedic providers found initial success in bundled payment initiatives but later found themselves in a "race to the bottom" as certain payment models sought to continuously reduce costs while maintaining high-quality care.

Ed Hellman, MD, president and interim CEO of Indianapolis-based OrthoIndy, has navigated several healthcare challenges over the last 30 years as an orthopedic surgeon.

For years, spine surgeons encountered multiple challenges using static interbody cages in procedures. The desire to minimize these challenges led to the development of expandable interbody cages. 

Collaboration, data access and avoiding the "race to the bottom" are all elements important to the future of value-based care, according to Brian Larkin, MD, an orthopedic surgeon and chief medical officer of Denver-based Orthopedic Centers of Colorado.

Value-based care has gained traction in spine and orthopedics, and some surgeons say it can hold physicians accountable and has the potential to be more effective. However, others, including Vladimir Sinkov, MD, say more definitive consensus is required in areas of value-based care.

Irvine, Calif.-based Hoag Orthopedic Institute has appointed Kim Mikes, BSN, RN, as its third consecutive female CEO.

The future of value-based care will rely on creativity in spine care, better cost measurements, multidisciplinary teamwork and technological advancements, according to Philip Louie, MD, of Virginia Mason Franciscan Health in Seattle.

Neurosurgeon Vijay Yanamadala, MD, made history on Oct. 1 when he became the first surgeon to perform an awake spinal fusion in New England.

In September, a Connecticut neurosurgeon became the second in the world to perform spine surgery with a newly approved patient-specific implant, which he believes can reduce complications and achieve superior outcomes over traditional implants. 

On Sept. 22, 2020, Philadelphia-based Rothman Orthopaedic Institute inked its partnership with Orlando, Fla.-based AdventHealth to expand into the Florida market. Rothman's president, Alexander Vaccaro, MD, PhD, spoke with Becker's about how that push stands a year later and what's in store in the coming months.

If the past decade is any indication, the field of orthopedic surgery could look dramatically different in 2031 than it does today. According to these seven orthopedic surgeons, some of the most likely changes include shifting roles for clinicians.

New Zealand's healthcare system employs a single-payer model and offers universal coverage to its population of more than 5 million.

Domagoj Coric, MD, a spinal neurosurgeon at Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates in Charlotte, N.C., has a unique position leading the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery.

Machine learning and artificial intelligence are some of the emerging healthcare technologies that Bert Mandelbaum, MD, is eager to follow.

Scott Sigman, MD, chief medical officer of Rochester, N.Y.-based OrthoLazer Orthopedic Laser Centers, is concerned about surgeons' future abilities in independent practices. He spoke on the "Becker's Spine and Orthopedic Podcast" about that concern, along with what he's excited about in orthopedics.

Robot-assisted spine surgery is growing exponentially, and many surgeons laud the efficiencies and improved safety measures the technology provides. However, spine robots still have yet to reach their full potential.

Orthopedic surgical robots and navigation systems still have a long way to go when it comes to accuracy, according to Richard Berger, MD, of Chicago-based Midwest Orthopaedics at Rush.