New AAOS toolkit helps orthopaedic practices optimize care teams

The AAOS Committee on Healthcare Safety (CHS) has released a new addition to the AAOS Toolkit Portfolio: the Optimizing Care Teams Toolkit. This marks the 16th toolkit in the collection and is designed to help orthopaedic practices effectively hire, onboard, and retain advanced practice providers (APPs), including physician assistants (PAs) and nurse practitioners (NPs), as integral members of the physician-led care team.

As the demand for orthopaedic care continues to grow, so does the need for well-integrated and effectively managed care teams. APPs play a critical role in extending the reach and efficiency of orthopaedic surgeons — enhancing access to care, supporting patient continuity, and improving outcomes. Recognizing this, CHS developed the Optimizing Care Teams Toolkit to provide orthopaedic practices with a comprehensive resource that supports the full life cycle of APP integration, from recruitment to retention.

A practical resource for every stage of APP management
The toolkit includes a suite of resources that are both adaptable and actionable. Each tool was created to address a key component of managing APPs within an orthopaedic setting, while emphasizing the importance of maintaining physician-led, team-based care. Included in the toolkit are:

• APP credentialing checklist: A step-by-step guide to ensure new hires meet all institutional and regulatory credentialing requirements
• Road map — How to interview APP candidates effectively: A resource for conducting structured, competency-based interviews that identify candidates who align with the practice’s values and patient-care priorities
• Onboarding and evaluation guide for newly hired APPs: A detailed framework for introducing APPs to orthopaedic workflows, setting expectations, and ensuring consistent performance evaluations during the critical first months of employment
• Midyear and annual performance review template: A customizable tool to facilitate regular feedback, track progress toward goals, and support career development
• Role review template: Designed to help practices clarify team member responsibilities, promote transparency, and prevent role overlap or confusion
• Team engagement survey: A tool to assess workplace culture, communication effectiveness, and overall team satisfaction
• Career growth opportunities and continuing education resources: Guidance to help APPs advance their clinical and leadership skills, ensuring long-term engagement and retention
• Do’s and don’ts of APP billing and reimbursement and billing guidelines for APP services: References outlining best practices and compliance considerations to maximize appropriate reimbursement and avoid billing errors

Supporting collaboration and retention
The Optimizing Care Teams Toolkit reflects AAOS’ ongoing commitment to advancing patient safety and high-quality orthopaedic care through well-coordinated, multidisciplinary teams. It recognizes that optimizing team structure and communication not only benefits practice operations but also enhances the patient experience.

By providing clear, standardized processes for credentialing, onboarding, evaluation, and professional growth, this toolkit helps orthopaedic practices build cohesive care teams where all members feel supported, valued, and aligned in their mission to provide safe, effective care.

Empowering practices to thrive
CHS designed this toolkit for orthopaedic practices of all sizes and structures — from academic institutions to private clinics — so they can adapt the tools to their unique needs. Each resource can be downloaded and implemented immediately, giving practices actionable steps toward more efficient and collaborative care.

The Optimizing Care Teams Toolkit joins the growing AAOS Toolkit Portfolio, which now includes 16 toolkits designed to help orthopaedic surgeons and their teams enhance patient care, improve safety, and strengthen practice management. These toolkits offer clinician and patient education materials, quality-improvement and evidence-based tools, and advocacy and regulatory resources.

To explore the new Optimizing Care Teams Toolkit and the full AAOS Toolkit Portfolio, visit aaos.org/toolkits.