2 weeks ago, our team attended the Becker’s Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC + The Future of Spine Conference. Leading experts and innovators discussed the future of orthopedic care, providing valuable insights into how technology and data enhance clinical efficiency and patient outcomes.

‍

AI was a major theme, with its potential to predict patient needs, manage OR efficiency, streamline reimbursement processes, and reduce administrative burdens. These capabilities can improve operations but also enhance the patient experience by ensuring they feel understood and their progress is effectively tracked. The overall shift towards a more patient-centered approach was highlighted by Tony Spasaro, Director of Ambulatory Clinics and Surgical Operations at Monument Health, who stated, “Patients are no longer just patients, they are really ‘guests’ in your facility. It matters what your coffee tastes like in the waiting room.” This highlights how important high-quality patient interactions are in modern healthcare, where every small detail can impact patient satisfaction, reviews, social media engagement, and future volume.

‍

Data’s power in orthopedics was another critical theme at the conference. Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs) are becoming increasingly important, driven by mandates and their role in payer negotiations. Additionally, wearable technology offers objective data that, when combined with PROMs and symptom tracking, provide a holistic picture of patient progress.

‍

The conference also addressed AI solutions for physician burnout, such as ambient listening, which streamlines clinical documentation. In addition, speakers noted major opportunities for AI to provide consistent care and ensure appropriate surgical interventions through a data-driven approach. This message resonates strongly with our work at moveUP, where we have developed a tool precisely for this.

‍

Overall, this conferenced emphasized the pivotal role of technology, particularly AI and data-driven approaches, in transforming orthopedic care. As AI becomes increasingly integrated into healthcare, it's important to remember that the work of physicians and care teams will never be replaced, but AI tools, like the Index, can augment traditional clinical judgement and provide valuable insights that were not possible in the past.

‍

Our experience from this conference paints a clear path forward: Embrace data, prioritize patient experience, and leverage innovative technologies for better outcomes