Surgeon-Patient Communication: The Key to Patient Satisfaction, Patient-Centered Care, and Shared Decision Making.

The surgeon-patient relationship is rapidly evolving from surgeon-centric to patient-centric. External forces, such as the Affordable Care Act and the unsustainable growth of healthcare costs in the United States, have disrupted the old model of medical care. Effective communication between surgeons and patients as well as patient satisfaction, treatment adherence, and shared decision making are essential components of the patient-centered care paradigm. Effective communication carries high stakes for surgeons, including increased surgeon satisfaction and a reduced risk of surgeon burnout and malpractice litigation. Communication skills are one of the six Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education core competencies, and an assessment of communication skills is now included in a surgeon's summative evaluations for employment, compensation, licensing, and maintenance of certification.

Implementation of TeamSTEPPS in Orthopaedic Surgery.

An Institute of Medicine report published in 2000 brought attention to the devastating consequences of medical errors. The report estimated that 98,000 deaths occurred in US hospitals each year as a result of medical errors and spawned investigations into factors that are associated with medical errors as well as strategies to avoid them. Taking cues from high-reliability organizations, such as the airline industry, evidence-based tools were developed to minimize human risk factors and foster teamwork, communication, and other skills that are essential to patient safety and quality. Orthopaedic surgeons are in a unique position to advocate for patients and to lead healthcare teams through the cultural changes that are necessary to avoid harm and improve outcomes. The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has made a commitment to educate interdisciplinary healthcare teams and uses TeamSTEPPS to educate orthopaedic surgeons on the knowledge, skills, and attitudes that are necessary to develop teamwork and improve patient safety and the quality of care. Orthopaedic surgeons should understand the need for improved teamwork and the resources that are available to shape the cultural changes that are necessary to avoid harm and improve outcomes.

Movement Is Life-Optimizing Patient Access to Total Joint Arthroplasty: Dental Health Disparities.

Poor oral health is common in the United States; however, it is much more common in African Americans, Hispanics, and other racial/ethnic minorities. Almost one in five low-income adults states that their mouth and teeth are in poor condition. Twenty-nine percent of Americans have no dental insurance. Patients who have active infections are at greater risk for prosthetic joint infection. Optimization in these vulnerable groups should focus on treating active infections, with a prioritization of free clinics, academic clinics, and websites, such as "The Neighborhood Navigator," and easily accessible surgical consults.