Vizient Examines Strategies to Retain Musculoskeletal Procedure Volume as Care Sites Shift

IRVING, Texas, Aug. 29, 2023 – Vizient, Inc. released its latest Medical Device Tech Watch examining strategies to retain musculoskeletal procedure volume in the face of shifting sites of care. Additionally, this edition surveys treatment options for diabetic neuropathy and provides an overview of technology advancements in orthopedics. Read Medical Device Tech Watch.

“Healthcare providers continue to face monumental challenges in an ever-evolving industry,” said Debbie Schuhardt, senior principal, Vizient. "To help providers address these challenges, our latest edition of Tech Watch explores a variety of opportunities to optimize performance and improve patient care through technology.”

Featured articles include:

Strategies to retain musculoskeletal volume in the face of shifting sites of care — Sg2, a Vizient company, projects continued migration of musculoskeletal procedures to the outpatient (OP) setting. Elective shoulder replacements are expected to grow 91% through 2033 with OP procedures taking 93% share of the market. Inpatient providers can mitigate the volume loss by implementing targeted ambulatory strategies for procedures traditionally requiring an increased length of stay to attract more payer-driven business.

Diabetic neuropathy prevalence and treatment — An estimated 20 million individuals currently suffer from peripheral neuropathy, a number likely to escalate. While medications and topical treatments for pain management are available, their efficacy varies. Opioids are increasingly avoided due to their addictive properties, leading providers and patients to seek alternative therapies — an ongoing challenge for these patients. Spinal cord stimulation (SCS) has been shown to reduce chronic pain, and adoption rates will likely increase with increased Food and Drug Administration approvals. Healthcare providers can evaluate local market demand for SCS, identify appropriate collaborations between subspecialties that treat this condition and improve the standard of care.

Technology advancements and innovations in orthopedics — Recent innovations in the orthopedic service line have the potential to make an impact. New sensor products have entered the handheld device market to assist orthopedic surgeons in better drilling with real-time clinical depth measurement. In addition, this article reviews self-monitoring analysis and reporting technology (SMART) devices that improve patient satisfaction and functional scoring while managing total knee arthroplasty implant. As market share shifts to the OP setting, SMART devices may become increasingly important in retaining market share.

Medical Device Tech Watch is published three times annually. View past editions of Medical Device Tech Watch.

About Vizient, Inc.

Vizient, Inc., the nation’s largest provider-driven healthcare performance improvement company, serves more than 60% of the nation’s acute care providers, which includes 97% of the nation’s academic medical centers, and more than 25% of the non-acute care market. Vizient provides expertise, analytics and advisory services, as well as a contract portfolio that represents more than $130 billion in annual purchasing volume. Vizient’s solutions and services improve the delivery of high-value care by aligning cost, quality and market performance. Headquartered in Irving, Texas, Vizient has offices throughout the United States. Learn more at www.vizientinc.com.