Employers with self-funded health plans are always seeking ways to support a healthy, productive workforce while controlling rising healthcare costs. Musculoskeletal (MSK) care is one of the most urgent and impactful areas to address, offering significant opportunities to improve member health and reduce expenses.
At Aware Health, we believe an effective MSK strategy hinges on three critical factors:
- Convenient Care
- Diagnostic Accuracy
- Personalized Treatment
This strategy is driven by our team of Doctors of Physical Therapy (DPTs), most of whom are Board-Certified Orthopedic Clinical Specialists (OCS). Below, we’ll explore why this certification is so important and how it enables our clinicians to deliver outstanding results for employers and their workforces.
What is an OCS?
Our physical therapists are Doctors of Physical Therapy (DPTs) who have already completed extensive doctoral-level education and clinical training.
On top of this advanced degree, many of our therapists pursue the prestigious Orthopedic Clinical Specialist (OCS) certification to further specialize in orthopedic care. Approximately 5-6% of all physical therapists in the United States are OCS certified.
To qualify, physical therapists must:
- Be licensed.
- Complete a minimum of 2,000 hours of direct patient care in orthopedics or graduate from an accredited orthopedic residency program.
Earning the OCS certification involves passing a rigorous exam that evaluates expertise in musculoskeletal health, diagnostic accuracy, clinical reasoning, and patient management. The OCS framework utilizes the latest evidence-based clinical research and clinical practice guidelines. To ensure ongoing excellence, therapists must pursue continuing education and recertify every 10 years, staying at the forefront of orthopedic advancements.
Why We Hire Orthopedic Clinical Specialists
Simply put, OCS-certified therapists deliver better patient outcomes and healthcare cost savings for employers. Research consistently shows that patients treated by OCS therapists experience less pain, faster recovery times, and improved mobility.
Proven Diagnostic Skills: Reducing Imaging Reliance
OCS therapists are highly skilled in evaluating and diagnosing musculoskeletal conditions without the need for imaging in most cases. Their ability to pinpoint the root cause of a condition enables effective, non-invasive treatment plans.
At Aware Health, we empower our clinicians with the only diagnostic tool among MSK vendors that helps rule out serious conditions like fractures, blood clots, or cancer-related pain, reducing unnecessary imaging and associated costs. This diagnostic tool, combined with the knowledge of an OCS, enables our patients to get the best diagnosis.
Personalized Treatment Plans Addressing Root Cause Factors
OCS therapists specialize in evidence-based, non-surgical treatment pathways and refer within your health plan when imaging or surgical intervention is necessary. Every treatment plan is comprehensive and tailored to the individual, addressing pain, improving mobility, and restoring function.
OCS therapists combine their expertise in anatomy and biomechanics with a biopsychosocial approach to recovery. Research shows that for conditions like low back pain, a patient’s perception of their pain is often a stronger predictor of recovery time than physical factors alone. This knowledge aids them in giving a clear prognosis and treatment plan for each patient, empowering them to understand when they can expect to see results.
Aware Health’s platform supports our clinicians with baseline risk stratification, which informs treatment plans, including:
- The goals to prioritize.
- The frequency of visits.
- The communication style and language to use for specific patient needs.
Their advanced training equips them to educate patients on effective alternatives to surgery, leading to Aware Health’s impressive 95% surgery avoidance rate.
At a member level, avoiding a surgery decreases risks and costs and promotes faster healing. In aggregate, our surgery avoidance leads to a positive ROI for employers.
Aware Health’s Solution
If your workforce is struggling with musculoskeletal injuries, avoidable surgeries, and rising MSK claims, we’d love to partner with you. Our team of highly skilled Orthopedic Clinical Specialists is ready to help your employees recover faster, stay healthier, and reduce unnecessary healthcare costs.
