As hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers confront shrinking margins, workforce shortages, and the expansion of value-based reimbursement, the definition of innovation in health tech is changing. Clinical performance alone is no longer enough. Administrators are demanding measurable return on investment, operational efficiency, and cost containment.
In orthopedic surgery, particularly total joint replacement, that pressure is acute. High procedure volumes, bundled payment models, and the migration of cases to outpatient settings have created an environment where every minute in the operating room and every instrument tray carries financial implications.
OrthAlign is one company positioning its technology at the center of that economic conversation.
Building ROI Through Operational Efficiency
From an administrator’s perspective, financial return in joint replacement programs rarely hinges on a single metric. Instead, it reflects the cumulative impact of workflow efficiencies, predictable outcomes, and scalable program design.
“No single factor stands above the rest, but together they form the basis of an overall cost benefit analysis,” said Brett Brodnax, Executive Chairman of United Surgical Partners International (USPI) and Board of Directors at OrthAlign.
A key driver of that analysis is operational simplification. By reducing the number of instrument trays required and streamlining workflows, OrthAlign helps ease the burden on sterile processing departments and operating room teams. As Brodnax explained, “Operational efficiencies, like fewer instrument trays and streamlined workflows, reduce the workload on SPD and OR teams and help shorten turnover and overall surgical times.”
Those incremental time savings can translate into meaningful gains in OR capacity, particularly in high volume programs. More predictable turnover and shorter case times allow facilities to optimize daily schedules without expanding staff or infrastructure.
Clinical performance plays an equally important role in protecting margins. “Clinical benefits protect margins and reduce costs associated with complications,” Brodnax noted.
In bundled payment arrangements, minimizing variability and avoiding costly revisions directly impacts the bottom line.
Taken together, Brodnax said OrthAlign’s model “translate[s] into measurable ROI through lower costs per case and increased OR capacity.”
Aligning With Value Based Care
The industry’s shift toward value-based care and bundled payments has forced health systems to rethink how they invest in technology. Large capital purchases and long-term service agreements can introduce financial risk, especially for independent ASCs and community hospitals.
Brodnax argues that flexibility is critical. “OrthAlign is a leader in this area because it provides a scalable, flexible technology that works for all surgeons and sites,” he said.
Unlike many legacy systems, OrthAlign does not require upfront capital, volume commitments, or service fees. That structure lowers barriers to adoption and allows facilities to align costs more closely with usage.
Standardization across surgeons and sites further strengthens financial performance. According to Brodnax, OrthAlign can “standardize technology across sites,” driving “efficiency, predictability, and consistent results, which directly translates into lower costs per case, and potential additional revenue opportunities through improving operating room utilization and better ROI.”
For multi-site health systems, that consistency can reduce variability in outcomes and staffing while improving throughput.
Optimizing Throughput in the ASC Era
As total joint procedures continue migrating to ambulatory surgery centers, efficiency has become a competitive differentiator. ASCs must deliver speed without sacrificing precision.
OrthAlign’s technology is designed to integrate into existing workflows rather than disrupt them. “OrthAlign makes procedures more predictable and reduces variability from case to case,” Brodnax said. He added that it “integrates into existing workflows and processes, can be used across multiple ORs, works with any implant vendor, and doesn’t require complex setup or extra steps.”
Ease of adoption is also central to throughput gains. “Training for both surgeons and ASC staff is efficient and straightforward, enabling rapid adoption without being time consuming,” he explained.
In practical terms, reducing variability and simplifying setup can help facilities standardize processes, smooth daily schedules, and maximize case volume. “The ease of use allows ASCs to standardize and streamline, creating an environment where they can become more efficient,” Brodnax said.
Making Advanced Technology Scalable
Precision tools in orthopedics have often been viewed as expensive or limited to large institutions. OrthAlign’s model aims to remove those traditional barriers.
“They’ve eliminated most of the obstacles that are standard with today’s technology,” Brodnax said.
The platform does not require preoperative imaging, works with any implant system, and supports multiple surgical approaches. It also avoids reliance on dedicated equipment with high upfront costs or service agreements. As Brodnax put it, “You use it when you need it, and that’s it.”
That simplicity makes advanced alignment tools accessible to a broader range of facilities, from community hospitals to high volume outpatient centers.
The Next Phase: From Feasibility to Optimization
With outpatient joint replacement now widely accepted as safe and effective, attention is turning to long term economic optimization.
“Now that it’s clear total joint procedures can be performed safely in an ASC setting, the focus is shifting to optimization,” Brodnax said.
He believes technologies built around operational realities will play a central role in that evolution. Facilities need solutions that “drive efficiency, consistency, improved operating room utilization, and predictable outcomes across programs,” while remaining adaptable to changing market demands.
For healthcare leaders under pressure to deliver both quality and financial performance, the equation is increasingly straightforward. Technologies that combine precision with operational efficiency are no longer optional enhancements. They are strategic assets in the pursuit of sustainable ROI.
