Orthopedics Patient Engagement Software

Patient Engagement in a Orthopedics Practice

An orthopedic surgery has a long tail of contact. Before a knee replacement, the patient needs a pre-op checklist, arrival times and what to stop taking, as set by the surgeon. After discharge, the patient needs wound care tips, the first post-op visit and reminders to keep up with therapy. Unlimited Systems triggers each message from the live schedule and the patient's episode, so the content follows the actual case and date. Messages go by the patient's chosen channel and language, with consent and opt-outs tracked. Two-way texting lets a patient confirm a visit or reply with a question, and staff see the thread on the patient record. Function surveys can go out before surgery and again at follow-up points the surgeon picks. Patients in an injection series get a reminder for each weekly shot. When a brace or a scan approval comes back, the patient gets a note with the next step.

Why Is Patient Engagement Different in Orthopedics?

Engagement in orthopedics is tied to recovery. A joint replacement or a fracture repair only works if the patient does the prep, shows up for follow-ups and keeps up with therapy. Missed post-op visits inside the global period are not lost revenue in themselves, since those visits are already paid. But they are lost chances to catch a problem early, and a problem caught late can mean a return to the OR. Reminders that follow the real surgery date matter more here than in most fields.

Hospitals now carry more risk for orthopedic episodes too. The TEAM model holds selected hospitals accountable for lower extremity joint replacement, hip and femur fracture surgery and spinal fusion episodes of care. The surgeons who operate there shape much of what happens to the patient after discharge. Clear outreach after surgery is one of the few tools a practice has to support that work.

Orthopedic patients are also busy and often working. A patient with a work injury may have return-to-work questions. A patient in an injection series needs a nudge each week. A patient waiting on an MRI approval wants to know where it stands. Orthopedics patient engagement software answers those needs with short, specific messages and a patient portal, instead of phone tag. Messages are triggered by the orthopedic schedule and by status changes in financial clearance, so they stay accurate.

What Orthopedics Patient Engagement Software Handles

TEAM episodes: joint replacement, hip fracture and spinal fusion

Since January 1, 2026, selected hospitals have been accountable for these surgical episodes. Post-discharge messages, visit reminders and surveys help the surgeon's practice keep patients on the plan the hospital and surgeon share. (CMS Innovation Center: Transforming Episode Accountability Model (TEAM))

Post-op visits in the global period (code 99024)

Reminders for each post-op visit are sent from the dates set at booking. Because these visits are logged with code 99024 and carry no separate charge, the reminder does not ask the patient to bring a copay. (CMS MLN907166 Global Surgery Booklet (December 2025))

Weekly viscosupplement series per knee

For weekly products such as Synvisc, Euflexxa or Orthovisc, the patient gets a reminder before each shot in the series. Each knee has its own series, so the message names the joint. (WPS Billing and Coding Article A56157: Intraarticular Knee Injections of Hyaluronan)

Knee braces on Medicare's prior auth list

For braces such as L1832 or L1851, the patient gets a message when the approval comes back and the fitting can be booked. The patient is not left calling to ask. (CMS DMEPOS Required Prior Authorization List)

WISeR review for knee scopes

For Original Medicare patients in a WISeR state, a knee scope for arthritis may wait on prior auth or a review. The patient gets a status note when the decision comes in, with the next step. (CMS Innovation Center: WISeR Model)

How Does Orthopedics Patient Engagement Software Work?

1. 1. Set the message plan

   Each visit type and procedure has its own message plan. A knee replacement plan holds pre-op, discharge and post-op messages. An injection plan holds a reminder for each shot.

2. 2. Trigger from the schedule

   Messages are sent from the live schedule and episode, not a fixed calendar. If the surgery date moves, the plan moves with it. Cancelled visits stop their reminders.

3. 3. Talk both ways

   Patients reply by text to confirm, reschedule or ask a question. Replies land on the patient record. Staff answer from the same thread.

4. 4. Send surveys and education

   Function surveys go out before surgery and at the follow-up points the surgeon picks. Education is matched to the joint, the procedure and the patient's language. Answers are stored with the episode.

5. 5. Track consent and results

   Consent and opt-outs are tracked for each channel. Staff can see which messages were read and which went unanswered. Patients who stop replying can get a call.

Orthopedics Patient Engagement Software vs. Generic Software

Who Uses It in a Orthopedics Practice

• Surgical coordinator: Pre-op and post-op message plans that run on their own and follow the real surgery date.
• Front desk: Fewer calls about visit times, approvals and prep steps, and replies in one thread on the patient record.
• Orthopedic surgeon: Patients who arrive prepared, keep their post-op visits and complete function surveys before and after surgery.
• Practice administrator: Outreach that supports hospital partners on joint replacement episodes and bundled payment work.