American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons President John R. Tongue, MD, recently issued a statement in response to the U.S. Government Accountability Office's position on patient referrals.
Dr. Tongue's statement supported the provision of in-office imaging services for orthopedic patients and addressing wasteful Medicare spending.
"The AAOS is invested in quality initiatives to ensure that only medically necessary services are performed on orthopedic patients," Dr. Tongue wrote in the statement. "Significant technological advances have been made in our field so that patients can receive timely and accessible screenings from the comfort of their doctor's office. We believe that any restriction on this convenience would threaten the quality of care being delivered to our patients."
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"The AAOS is invested in quality initiatives to ensure that only medically necessary services are performed on orthopedic patients," Dr. Tongue wrote in the statement. "Significant technological advances have been made in our field so that patients can receive timely and accessible screenings from the comfort of their doctor's office. We believe that any restriction on this convenience would threaten the quality of care being delivered to our patients."
More Articles on Orthopedic Surgeons:
Patient-Specific Implants—the Future for Orthopedics: Q&A With Dr. Greg Martin of JFK Medical Center
12 Orthopedic Surgeries for Professional Athletes
10 Key Trends in Spine Surgery for 2013