This webinar is an AAOS benefit - join for free!

Description

Orthopedic independent medical examinations are among the most record-intensive evaluations in workers' compensation, auto liability, and disability claims. A single file may span hundreds of pages across dozens of providers, including imaging reports, surgical notes, therapy records, and prior IMEs, with causation timelines that are contested, compressed, and consequential. For the IME physician, the core challenge has never changed: produce an accurate, defensible opinion under time pressure, on a record that was not designed to be easy to review.

What has changed is the availability of AI tools that can help. Not all of them are suited for this work. General-purpose AI tools are not trained on the structure, terminology, or evidentiary standards of insurance medicine. Domain-specific AI, by contrast, is built to understand how orthopedic records are organized across claim types, how to surface the clinical details that matter for causation and permanency, and how to produce summaries that are organized, traceable, and audit-ready.

This session examines how orthopedic IME physicians are incorporating AI-assisted record review into their practice. Presenter Jenna Earnshaw, CEO of Wisedocs, will walk through practical applications across high-volume orthopedic claim types, drawing on real examples from workers' compensation, auto liability, and disability contexts. The session will address what accuracy thresholds are required for an AI output to be reliably useful in clinical opinion, how AI-assisted review fits alongside existing IME workflows, and the specific situations where physician judgment must remain the final step.

The goal is not to replace clinical expertise. It is to eliminate the low-value record review work that consumes time without improving opinion quality, so that the physician's attention is concentrated where it matters most. 

Learning Objectives

• Describe how domain-specific AI tools process and summarize complex orthopedic IME documentation, and explain why purpose-built medical AI produces more accurate and audit-ready outputs than general-purpose AI tools for insurance medicine applications.
• Identify high-volume workflow inefficiencies in traditional orthopedic IME record review that AI-assisted tools are designed to address, with reference to common claim types including rotator cuff injuries, lumbar spine cases, and fracture-related disability determinations.
• Evaluate AI-assisted review outputs for clinical accuracy and defensibility in the context of orthopedic causation analysis, permanency assessment, and impairment rating, including the documentation standards required to support a credible independent opinion.
• Apply practical criteria for determining where AI-assisted record review adds reliable value and where orthopedic clinical judgment must remain the final step in an independent medical evaluation.

Director

Jenna Earnshaw, CEO & Co-founder Wisedocs
 

Work smarter, not longer—discover how AI can transform your orthopedic IME workflow.

This webinar is an AAOS benefit - join for free!

Description

Compartment syndrome remains one of the most time sensitive and consequential diagnoses in orthopaedic surgery. Yet, how it is diagnosed is primarily through clinical examination supplemented by intermittent pressure measurements and this method has not changed in decades. The consequences of missed or delayed diagnosis acute compartment syndrome can be devastating. The scope of this program is to address how objective continuous monitoring of patients at the bedside provides surgeons with real data on tissue perfusion. This data, along with clinical examination, can help diagnose acute compartment syndrome earlier or avoid an unnecessary prophylactic fasciotomy. This program is intended to provide surgeons with understanding of continuous perfusion monitoring as it relates to diagnosis and management of acute compartment syndrome, through case based discussion.

Learning Objectives

• Describe limitations and subjectivity of clinical examination
• Describe pathophysiology of acute compartment syndrome as a continuous, dynamic condition, recognizing that the risk is not limited to the classic high-risk patients
• Discuss how continuous, real-time perfusion monitoring can be used alongside clinical assessment to guide diagnostic and treatment decisions.  
• Discuss the advantages of continuous monitoring to avoid prophylactic fasciotomy for patients at risk for developing acute compartment syndrome. 

Director

Samir Mehta, MD, FAAOS

Faculty

Carol Lin, MD, FAAOS, FACS, MA, Edward Harvey, MD, MSc, and James Blair, MD

Could continuous perfusion monitoring change the way you diagnose and manage acute compartment syndrome? Join us for a case-based discussion exploring emerging approaches to one of orthopaedic surgery's most time-sensitive diagnoses.

This webinar is an AAOS member benefit: Members attend for free! 

Description

As value-based care continues to evolve, orthopaedic surgeons must understand the policy and payment models driving the adoption of digital health technologies. This webinar will examine emerging CMS initiatives—including ACCESS, TEAM, CARA, and CJR-X—and discuss how these programs are shaping care delivery, quality measurement, and technology integration across musculoskeletal care. Faculty will provide an overview of the current policy landscape, highlight anticipated trends, and discuss strategies for preparing practices to successfully navigate the future of value-based care. 

Learning Objectives

• Describe the goals and key components of emerging CMS value-based care models, including ACCESS, TEAM, CARA, and CJR-X.  
• Explain how evolving healthcare policy is influencing the adoption and integration of digital health technologies within orthopaedic practice.  
• Identify opportunities for orthopaedic practices to prepare for and adapt to future value-based care initiatives through strategic technology integration and workflow planning. 

Director

Christian Pean, MD

Faculty

Reyann Davis, MD, Kathryn Davidson, MD, Marc Gruner, MD 

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 

If you are unable to attend the live webinar, you may still register to be notified upon the availability of the recorded session. Access to the recording will be granted for a duration of 2 years.

This webinar is an AAOS benefit - join for free!

Description

Accurate procedure coding is essential for compliant reporting, reimbursement, and healthcare data integrity. Join Dr. Brian Cunningham, CCRC Liaison to the AHA Editorial Advisory Board, for an in-depth discussion of ICD-10-PCS (Procedure Coding System), the coding system used exclusively for reporting inpatient hospital procedures.

This session will provide practical guidance on the structure and application of ICD-10-PCS codes, clarify key distinctions between ICD-10-PCS and CPT coding, and help attendees navigate common areas of confusion when selecting the appropriate code set. Whether you are a coding professional, physician advisor, or healthcare administrator, you'll gain valuable insights to support accurate inpatient procedure reporting.

Learning Objectives

• Examine the structure and purpose of ICD-10-PCS, a seven-character alphanumeric code set used exclusively for inpatient hospital procedure reporting.
• Differentiate between ICD-10-PCS and CPT coding and identify when each code set is appropriate for use.
• Apply key principles of ICD-10-PCS coding to support accurate and compliant procedure reporting.

Webinar Director

Brian Cunningham, MD

Accompanied by

Christine Banks (KZA Consultant)

Register today to strengthen your understanding of inpatient procedure coding and gain practical insights that support accurate, compliant reporting! 

This webinar is an AAOS member benefit - members join for free!
 

Description

Artificial intelligence and augmented and virtual reality technologies are rapidly reshaping orthopaedic surgery, from preoperative planning and intraoperative navigation to skills training and postoperative outcome prediction. This session will provide surgeons with a practical overview of current AI and AR/VR applications in orthopaedic practice, exploring how these tools are being integrated into clinical workflows, surgical education, and patient care. The presentation will also address the practical, ethical, and regulatory considerations surgeons must weigh as these technologies become more prevalent. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of where this technology stands today, where it is headed, and how to thoughtfully evaluate its role in their own practice.

Learning Objectives

1.    Describe current and emerging applications of artificial intelligence in orthopaedic surgery, including diagnostic imaging analysis, preoperative planning, and outcome prediction.
2.    Identify how augmented reality and virtual reality platforms are being used to enhance surgical training, intraoperative navigation, and patient education.
3.    Evaluate the practical, ethical, and medicolegal considerations associated with adopting AI and AR/VR technologies into clinical practice, including data privacy, algorithmic bias, and liability.
4.    Assess strategies for integrating these tools into a surgical practice while maintaining patient safety and quality of care.
 

Director

Sean Tabaie, MD, MBA, FAAOS

Faculty

David Neuman, MD, FAAOS

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

If you are unable to attend the live webinar, you may still register to be notified upon the availability of the recorded session. Access to the recording will be granted for a duration of 2 years.

This webinar is an AAOS benefit - join for free!

Description

Retirement for orthopaedic surgeons looks nothing like it did a decade ago, and understanding what's changed can make all the difference in how you plan your next chapter.

The traditional model of setting a date, handing off patients, and walking away from clinical medicine is giving way to something far more nuanced. Today's orthopaedic surgeons are navigating a landscape shaped by economic pressures, persistent workforce shortages, evolving care models, and deeply personal questions about identity and purpose. The result is a retirement that unfolds less like an on/off switch and more like a dimmer — gradual, intentional, and highly individualized.

In this session, experts from Jackson Physician Search, the exclusive physician recruitment partner of AAOS, will explore the forces reshaping physician retirement and what they mean specifically for orthopaedic surgeons. Whether you're years away from retirement or actively thinking about winding down, this session will help you understand your options and approach your transition with clarity and confidence.

Webinar Director

Camille Carter
Director, Recruiting - Jackson Physician Search

Whether retirement is years away or right around the corner, this session will help you explore your options and prepare for a transition that aligns with your goals, values, and vision for the future.

This webinar is an AAOS member benefit: Members attend for free!

Description

Patient education and patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) are becoming increasingly important in delivering high-quality, value-based orthopaedic care—but how can surgeons integrate these tools without adding unnecessary burden to patients or practice workflows?

Join a panel of orthopaedic leaders as they discuss practical strategies for improving patient engagement, implementing PROMs efficiently, and using patient-reported data to support meaningful shared decision-making in the clinic. Through real-world examples and interactive discussion, faculty will explore the evolving role of digital tools, AAOS resources, and AI-driven technologies in enhancing patient care while maintaining clinical judgment.

Whether you're beginning to incorporate PROMs into your practice or looking to optimize existing workflows, this webinar will provide actionable insights you can apply immediately.

Learning Objectives

• Identify practical strategies to improve patient education and engagement before and during orthopaedic clinical visits using digital resources and evidence-based tools.
• Describe best practices for implementing patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) into clinical workflows while minimizing burden on patients and healthcare teams.
• Apply PROM data to facilitate shared decision-making and support patient-centered treatment discussions in orthopaedic practice.
• Discuss the evolving role of PROMs, digital health technologies, and artificial intelligence in advancing value-based orthopaedic care while preserving clinical judgment.

Director

Stuart J Fischer, MD, FAAOS 

Faculty

Brian Cunningham, MD, FAAOS, Lauren Shapiro, MD, MS, FAAOS, Kevin Bozic, MD, MBA, FAAOS, Judith Baumhauer, MD, MPH, FAAOS

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education (CME) for physicians. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
 

If you are unable to attend the live webinar, you may still register to be notified upon the availability of the recorded session. Access to the recording will be granted for a duration of 2 years.