Quality, Safety, and Value: The Current AAOS Initiatives

Area of Science:

• Orthopaedic Surgery
• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient Safety

Background:

• The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) prioritizes delivering safe, effective, and high-quality patient care.
• Orthopaedic care delivery is increasingly focused on measurable quality and value.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe the AAOS's key initiatives aimed at enhancing patient safety and care quality.
• To highlight the role of evidence-based practices in orthopaedic patient management.

Main Methods:

• Review of active AAOS initiatives.
• Description of programs focused on patient safety and team performance.
• Explanation of evidence-based tools such as clinical practice guidelines and appropriate use criteria.

Main Results:

• The AAOS actively promotes patient safety through structured programs.
• Clinical practice guidelines and appropriate use criteria are central to ensuring evidence-based, high-value orthopaedic care.
• Initiatives address both individual patient safety and overall team performance.

Conclusions:

• The AAOS is dedicated to advancing safe and high-quality orthopaedic patient care.
• Established initiatives provide a framework for evidence-based practice and continuous quality improvement in orthopaedics.
• These efforts support orthopaedists in delivering optimal patient outcomes and value.