Cory Calendine, MD, an orthopedic surgeon at Franklin-based Bone and Joint Institute of Tennessee, has plans to implement new technologies and protocols to strengthen care at the practice.
He told Becker's about the potential technologies such as remote care and virtual reality hold for his patients.
Note: This response was edited for style.
Question: What procedures, protocols or devices are you considering implementing this year?
Dr. Cory Calendine: Perhaps you never want to be the first or last to do anything, but there comes a time we all must contribute to the evolution of healthcare for our patients.
In 2022, virtual reality for training and for exploring new technologies will take center stage for me. Restrictions on travel and person interaction persist. Innovation must continue. VR offers the ability to evaluate and educate on the surgeon's time, without involvement of a physical patient.
Protocols, particularly for nonopioid pain controls, must be pushed further. With recent mention from the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, laser treatment both for chronic conditions like arthritis and postoperative pain control will start this year.
The concept of remote monitoring is not new, but in 2022 we will be launching MotionSense with wearable trackers to monitor patient motion following total knee arthroplasty. The goal is for early intervention/modification when patients are struggling and even early discontinuation of physical therapy for those who excel. Data is power when actionable.