Orthopedics / TJR

While the number of orthopedic procedures — particularly knee and hip replacements — being performed in ASCs continues to grow, this rapid growth creates operational and administrative challenges.

Cincinnati-based Beacon Orthopaedics performed its 4,000th total joint replacement in an ASC setting, the practice announced March 15.

Barbara Bergin, MD, orthopedic surgeon at Austin-based Texas Orthopedics, Sports & Rehabilitation Associates, spoke about the growth of women in the orthopedic field and her outlook on ASCs on "Becker's Ambulatory Surgery Centers Podcast."

Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, about 750,000 total knee replacements and 450,000 total hip replacements were performed in the U.S. annually, with wound complications the No. 1 reason for hospital readmissions.

OrthoGrid Systems launched its OrthoGrid Hip software application Feb. 23, the company announced.

Michael Ast, MD, an attending orthopedic surgeon at Hospital for Special Surgery and assistant professor of orthopedic surgery at Weill Cornell Medical College in New York City, has focused on outpatient orthopedics throughout his career.

Becker's ASC Review reported on 23 ASCs that added or debuted surgical robots in 2020.

Inefficient, paper-based business processes have become incompatible with today’s demanding healthcare environment where practices face massive complexities, ranging from reimbursement challenges to compliance hurdles — and this was before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Orthopedic surgeons in independent practices report higher compensation than their counterparts employed by hospitals, and in some areas the gap widens as physicians gain more experience.

Here are eight orthopedic ASCs that were opened or announced so far in 2021: