Upcoming Enhancements to the AAOS Registry Program Will Help Advance Orthopaedic Care

The AAOS Registry Program continues to revolutionize musculoskeletal care through the power of data, driving meaningful improvements in patient outcomes. As registry participation continues to expand, AAOS recently invested in numerous technology enhancements to modernize its Data Submission Platform to reduce the complexity of file processing and to enhance efficiency—paving the way for expanded use of registry data in quality-improvement initiatives.

Over the coming months, AAOS will unify data input, storage, and analytics across all registries through migration to the IQVIA Integrated Health Platform. IQVIA provides the life-sciences industry with advanced healthcare technology solutions. New data specifications for the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) and the Musculoskeletal Tumor Registry (MsTR) will be released in late spring 2025, and the new data-ingestion platform will be available for the two registries in fall 2025. The Fracture & Trauma Registry (FTR), the Shoulder & Elbow Registry (SER), and the American Spine Registry (ASR) will receive new data specifications in early 2026 and the new data-ingestion platform in summer 2026.

“Our registries are constantly evolving, and these significant investments reflect our commitment to enhancing the overall user experience for current and future participants,” said Bryan D. Springer, MD, FAAOS, AJRR Steering Committee member. “By integrating data, technology, and analytics, we aim to improve musculoskeletal health outcomes. These upgrades will streamline data entry, improve accuracy, and allow us to do more with the insights we collect, ultimately enhancing patient care.”

Key enhancements and benefits
Registry participants can expect several improvements from the new Data Submission Platform, including:

• user-friendly interfaces to simplify navigation and usability related to file processing, including searching and filtering capabilities
• streamlined data submission to reduce barriers for institutions participating in registries, making it easier to track evidence-based practices
• robust data validation and enhanced capabilities for error tracking and correction to identify and resolve discrepancies in file submissions
• integrated data management to streamline documentation and reduce file-management tasks
• improved conformity to standards for health data

“The new system is designed to simplify processes for participants and registry staff in managing registry-data dictionaries and specifications,” Dr. Springer added. “Enhanced tools for tracking, correcting errors, and managing data specifications will significantly improve efficiency and accuracy of the data.”

The benefits of modernizing the platform include:

• utilizing data to establish benchmarks for clinical performance and the validity of various quality measures, which are efforts critical to a value-based healthcare system
• offering the option to upgrade from a minimum data set to enhanced data mapping and integration with existing workflows such as patient-reported outcomes, revision rates, BMI, anesthesia type, surgical technique and approach, and robotic use
• providing feedback to surgeons that allows them to continuously improve their practices and healthcare outcomes using methods applicable to all practice settings
• reducing data-reporting burdens on physicians and allowing the reuse of data for regulatory requirements and continuous quality-improvement programs
• helping to inform gaps in knowledge and define areas for further education and research

“The AJRR minimum dataset is a foundational tool for advancing data completeness across orthopaedic practices,” said James I. Huddleston, III, MD, FAAOS, chair of the AJRR Steering Committee. “It establishes a consistent baseline set of clinically relevant data elements that allow us to further enhance the registry’s ability to benchmark performance, support participation in national quality initiatives, and drive continuous improvement. By ensuring that every participating site consistently contributes core data, we continue to improve the overall integrity of the registry and its ability to generate meaningful insights. And with the option to expand to a more comprehensive dataset—including patient-reported outcomes, surgical techniques, and robotic utilization—we give institutions the flexibility to scale their participation and align with the increasing demands of value-based healthcare.”

As AAOS continues to lead the way in orthopaedic data collection and analysis, the upcoming enhancements to the AAOS Registries Program are a testament to our commitment to advancing patient care, improving outcomes, and supporting the orthopaedic community. These innovations mark a new era of efficiency, accuracy, and accessibility for registry participants. To learn more about the enhancements and prepare for their rollout, visit AAOS Registry Enhancements.

Jennifer Lefkowitz is a freelance writer for AAOS Now.