Paul Cagle, MD, assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York City, will be among several orthopedic surgeons from Mount Sinai who present at the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Annual Meeting in Las Vegas, March 12 to 16.
Dr. Cagle is also the associate residency program director and chief of quality assurance at New York City-based Mount Sinai West Hospital in the department of orthopedic surgery. His practice focuses on shoulder and elbow treatment. Here, he discusses new trends in value-based care and where he sees pain management headed in the future.
Question: What are the biggest trends you're seeing in value-based orthopedic care? What should we expect over the next two to three years?
Dr. Paul Cagle: The biggest trends in value-based care are movements focused on ensuring standardization and safety for patients during and after surgery. By focusing on these two pillars, value-based care can be provided to patients. In the next two to three years, increasing local and national standardization should lead to safer and improved value-based care.
Q: How can orthopedic surgeons get on the forefront of value-based care and delivering a great patient experience in addition to a great outcome?
PC: Orthopedic surgeons need to take the lead by controlling the cost of both surgery and the care after surgery. Using modern pain control methods, patients are able to go home much sooner after surgery, need fewer medications after surgery and are more comfortable after surgery. Improving the postoperative course decreases the costs of care after surgery and greatly improves the experience for each patient.
Q: How have you seen postoperative pain management change in the wake of the opioid epidemic? What solutions do you see becoming more prominent in the future?
PC: The opioid epidemic has hit all facets of medicine, and each facet has taken individual steps towards a better and safer patient experience. Orthopedic surgeons have been at the frontline of this movement by studying and using alternative pain control methods. These methods include methods to keep the limb pain-free or near pain-free for sometimes two to three days after surgery, and also different medications such as anti-inflammatory and muscle relaxant medication have been utilized to decrease the amount of postoperative narcotics that are needed.
To participate in future Becker's Q&As, contact Laura Dyrda at ldyrda@beckershealthcare.com.
For a deeper dive into the future of orthopedics, attend the Becker's 17th Annual Future of Spine + Spine, Orthopedic & Pain Management-Driven ASC in Chicago, June 13-5, 2019. Click here to learn more and register.