Teaching of Cost-Effective Care in Orthopaedic Surgery Residency Training: A Survey of Residency Programs in the US

Costs of healthcare in the US continue to rise at rates that are unsustainable. Prior studies, most of which come from non-surgical specialties, indicate that a variety of strategies to teach this material are utilized but without consensus on best practices. No studies exist regarding the teaching of cost-effective care in orthopaedic residency training programs. The goal of this study was to assess the landscape in this area from the perspective of program leadership. METHODS: A survey was developed that was sent to orthopaedic residency program leadership via email through their interaction with the COERG. Additional programs were included to enhance diversity of responding programs. The survey, based on those published from other areas of medicine, included questions about the experiences of the respondents in learning about cost-effective care, as well as how faculty and residents learned about this topic. RESULTS: Seventy one percent (30) of respondents noted that their faculty did not receive formal training in cost-effective care, and education in this area was likely to come from the department, especially review of practice data (12, 44%). Only 19% (8) of respondents agreed with the statement that “the majority of teaching faculty in our program consistently model cost-effective healthcare to residents”. Few of the programs (10, 24%) had formal curricula for residents regarding cost-effective care, and the primary mode of education in cost-effective care was through informal discussions with faculty (17, 43%). Few residents (3, 13%) were able to easily find the costs of tests or procedures. DISCUSSION: There is not consistent education in cost-effective care for orthopaedic surgery program leadership, faculty, or trainees. The results of this survey demonstrate a need for discussion of best practices, including increasing access to cost data at a local level, and engaging with the AOA, CORD, and the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons more broadly in the development of standard education modules for faculty and residents, to improve the current and future delivery of cost-effective musculoskeletal care.