Batesville, Ark - Batesville Orthopaedic Surgeon Jeff Angel, M.D. is in the third year of a six- year term representing Arkansas on the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons Board of Counselors. The Board of Counselors is a 90 member advisory group elected by state and regional Orthopaedic societies, including, Canada, Puerto Rico and the United States Military. The Board of Counselors is a grassroots organization dedicated o improving orthopaedic care.
Committees within the Board work with healthcare leaders to improve access to care, develop meaningful measurable quality standards, and support operative and biological innovation to improve bone and joint health. The Board offers its expertise as an advocate for patients and surgeons, to state, regional, and national healthcare policy makers responsible for health reform implementation.
Specifically, Dr. Angel is working with committees that are charged with developing the quality metrics and outcome measures that are a part of the national health reform. These outcome measures will be publically reported, providing a new level of transparency in healthcare. Outcomes will be important as future payment models reflect the value of quality care. Dr. Angel will help his colleagues integrate the new standards into their practices. For example, Orthopaedic Surgeons are working with primary care physicians, other healthcare professionals, and patients as a team to assess the patient’s readiness for complex orthopaedic procedures. This multidisciplinary approach has shown to improve patient outcomes, reduce unintended hospital admissions, and improve the level of functional recovery for patients after joint replacement and other orthopaedic procedures.
“Quality metrics are much more than numbers on a page,” said Dr. Angel, “Every number is patient who is someone’s mother, father, or family member. Improving the lives of the patients we serve is the fundamental reason most physicians choose a career in medicine. I am eager to be part of the solution that will improve orthopaedic care.”
The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons has developed a website, www.anationinmotion.org, with information about orthopaedic conditions and the socio-economic impact of bone and joint illnesses. Orthopaedic health problems are the leading cause of physical disability in the United States. In 2014 440M days of missed work and 25% of all disability claims were related to orthopaedic conditions. Dr. Angel and his colleagues are providing patient care and implementing change at the local, state and national level to make sure that patients continue to have access to high quality orthopaedic care that improves health, restores or maintains mobility and quality of life.
Dr. Angel practices at MPOC Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Clinic in Batesville along with Drs. J.D. Allen and Dylan Carpenter. Dr. Angel is also active in the local community providing sports medicine support to Batesville High School and Lyon College.
