What does better joint replacement care actually look like—and should success be measured by the surgery itself or by the health outcomes that matter most to the patient?
In this episode of The Joint Replacement Podcast, Dr. Matthew Sloan speaks with Kevin Bozic, MD, MBA, Chair of the Department of Surgery and Perioperative Care at Dell Medical School at the University of Texas at Austin and former President of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.
Dr. Bozic explains why value-based healthcare should focus first on improving pain, function, and quality of life rather than simply reducing costs. He shares how his multidisciplinary practice integrates physical therapy, weight management, behavioral health, and patient-reported outcomes to manage the entire spectrum of hip and knee arthritis—not just surgery.
They also explore bundled payments, Medicare reimbursement, the limitations of fee-for-service medicine, patient activation, appropriate surgical selection, and why the future may involve paying healthcare teams to manage a patient's condition rather than individual procedures.
Finally, Dr. Bozic shares a unique perspective as both a joint replacement expert and a joint replacement patient himself, including how he chose his own surgeon and why he cared more about surgeon experience, volume, outcomes, facility quality, and trust than the specific implant or surgical approach.
A fascinating conversation about what joint replacement looks like when we stop asking only “How do we perform surgery better?” and start asking “How do we improve the patient's health?”
🎧 Follow The Joint Replacement Podcast for weekly conversations with leaders shaping the future of hip and knee replacement.
Medical Disclaimer: This podcast is for educational purposes only and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice.
