by Marius Ged, on Jul 20, 2022 9:51:53 AM
Keep up with the latest orthopedics news and insights from the industry’s trusted legal partner, Ged Lawyers. Here is an overview of what happened this month in orthopedics.
What’s New in FL Orthopedics
1) Rothman Orthopaedics Florida to add Physicians and Locations in 2022
Rothman Orthopedic Institute plans to recruit more physicians and increase its locations in Florida. They aim to recruit between 30 and 35 physicians by the end of 2022 and 50 more in the following five years.
Daryl Osbahr, MD, told the journal that the Philadelphia-based institution also aims to increase its offices in Florida from five to eight.
As part of these plans, Rothman partnered with AdventHealth and is leasing space in their 12-story Innovation Tower, which is expected to open later this year. The partnership will allow them to expand into Central Florida.
Industry Updates
1) Game On: Orthopedists are Integrating eSports into Practice Scope
eSports, the world of competitive gaming, has been increasing. Viewership is expected to rise to 577.2 million by 2024 from 435.9 million in 2020. As the interest increases, so will eSports-related injuries.
According to Dominic King, a sports medicine physician at Cleveland Clinic, eSports athletes who train for more than 10 hours a day are likely to develop pain in their upper extremities and neck and lower back soreness.
King, along with Nina R. Lightdale-Miric, MD, and Edwards Rosero, DO, highlighted the following as some of the injuries that are likely to occur amongst eSport athletes:
- Nerve compression injuries
- Repetitive tendonitis injuries
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Cubital tunnel syndrome
- Cervical radiculopathy
Caitlin McGee, PT, DPT, of 1-HP, insisted to Orthopedics Today that eSport injuries should be treated as a traditional athletic injury. McGee said they would assess the range of motion, examine the strength and endurance, and then run clinical tests if necessary.
King said that after identifying the injury, the appropriate treatment focuses on treating the microtrauma, optimizing ergonomics, and the time esports athletes spend behind their consoles.
The article by Healio News also discusses the following topics:
- eSport injury prevention
- Advantages of exercise to eSport athletes
- The importance of educating athletes and coaches
- Medical collaborations that provide overall care to professional gamers
Growing Your Practice
1) The Current Workforce Shortage is Impacting All Areas of Orthopedics
Robert A. Arciero, MD, a professor of orthopedics at UConn Health, recently revealed to Orthopedics Today that the workforce shortage in the United States is at a critical level. A 2021 report by the Association of American Medical Colleges estimated a shortage of up to 124,000 physicians by 2034 across the country. The report stated that between 15800 and 30200 of the deficiencies are from surgical specialties such as orthopedic surgery.
However, to add to the looming shortage of orthopedic surgeons, the workforce shortage will cut across all areas of orthopedics, including orthopedic nurses and technicians. According to Michael Suk, MD, JD, MPH, MBA, FACS, one of the reasons for this shortage is the increasing number of orthopedic surgeons retiring.
The article by Healio News also cited the following reasons as possible causes for this shortage:
- Burnout from the Covid-19 pandemic
- Maldistribution of orthopedic surgeons between metropolitan and rural areas
- Low salaries among orthopedists
- A low cycle of travel nurses
Suk proposes that Congress reexamine the funding mechanisms and amounts and liaise with training institutions to determine the required size of the country’s physician and surgeon workforce.
2) The Future of Marketing in Orthopedics
Orthopedic marketing traditionally focused on physical features such as packaging, trade show booths, sales samples, training, and product features. While this marketing method worked in the past because of the high-profit margins, it is no longer viable.
Instead, orthopedists should focus their marketing efforts on digital channels such as social media and websites. Orthopedists should target their patients with valuable content that gently leads them to their surgeons.
By going digital, orthopedic companies will have a wide array of metrics to guide their business strategies and help them optimize marketing campaigns.
Read this article by OrthoStreams to learn more about the future of orthopedic marketing and how to optimize content for each digital platform.
3) Why Attorneys Without a BAA Could put Your Practice at Risk
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires all medical providers to enter into a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with contractors who might come into contact with confidential patient information. Your attorney should have a watertight BAA to ensure your practice is not jeopardized. Failure to do so can result in hefty fines for lack of compliance and wasted resources in civil cases.
Let Ged Lawyers Help You Unlock More Revenue for Your Practice
Ged Lawyers comprises a team of attorneys proficient in personal injury protection (PIP) claims. We have been helping healthcare professionals process PIP claims since 1995 through our simple, streamlined process that ensures our clients receive the total payout.
We also have a rock-solid BAA to ensure that your practice complies with HIPAA. Call us at 561-995-1966 or contact us via our website to learn how to unlock more revenue for your practice.
