Exploring new practice models delivering orthopedic care: can we significantly decrease delivery costs and improve quality?

Health care delivery models are undergoing rapid transformation in response to market, regulatory, and demographic trends. Many of the new models of delivery are centrally planned structures with attributes dictated by statute. An understanding of these models is essential if physicians wish to retain an influential voice in patient care. Accountable Care Organizations, Medical Homes, Bundled Payment, and Episode of Care are terms even sports medicine physicians must become familiar with to positively affect the delivery of health care in the near future. By embracing both the clinical and economic aspects of health care, surgeons will be in a better position to make health care reform responsive to actual patient needs.