Five orthopedic surgeons discuss the best opportunities for growth in the future.
James T. Caillouette, MD. Hoag Orthopedic Institute (Irvine, Calif.): We have created a physician-led, for profit enterprise that includes private practices, multiple ASCs and an inpatient 70-bed orthopedic specialty hospital in joint venture with a community not-for-profit hospital and a large health system. This allows us to control the right setting to drive the greatest value for our patients. All of these elements are aligned under Hoag Orthopedic Institute. We have a research and education arm with surgical fellows who are presenting at national meetings and publishing papers. We represent a hybrid between an academic model and a private practice model that is deeply focused on value. This unique model has significant appeal to physicians and payers throughout Southern California and beyond and we see an opportunity to increase our footprint and are actively pursuing this.
There are about 20 million people living within a one hundred mile radius of our existing facilities; that's a good place for us to start.
Charles Bush-Joseph, MD. Rush University Medical Center (Chicago): We practice in the third largest market in the country, so we have great potential for growth locally and regionally. Executing on that model for growth is our biggest challenge.
Joshua Siegel, MD. Access Sports Medicine & Orthopaedics (Exeter, N.H.): Being able to treat people remotely through telemedicine is very interesting but may be years away because of the regulations and payment models. I believe most growth will come from the aging population and the increased number of lives insured over the short term. Longer term I believe growth will be in the offerings we have through technology expansion and biologics.
Robert LaPrade, MD: I believe that the best opportunity for growth in orthopedics is in the area of biologics and their proper use. While we desperately need more basic science research to determine the when, how and at what doses for the usage of biologics products, the use of biologics to augment or advance the healing process could potentially be the greatest advancement in orthopedic sports medicine since the arthroscope. However, before we can use biologics to their full potential, we need to counter the unproven hype around their usage and determine when they are best utilized with high level basic science and Level I clinical studies.
David Fisher, MD. OrthoIndy (Indianapolis): As I intend to retire at the end of 2019, growth of my practice is not a concern. But the advice I give to my young partners and anyone else interested is to take good care of patients one at a time. High quality care and delivery is rewarded by patient referrals. Do not jump on new technology or ideas until they have withstood the test of time, and don't use them for marketing purposes.