AAOS modernizes American Joint Replacement Registry to simplify data collection and support outcomes-based care

Recognizing the need for greater efficiency and better patient outcomes, AAOS continues to invest strategically in its Registry Program to provide participating sites with streamlined, modernized data-collection processes and actionable insights. As part of this ongoing evolution, AAOS will use Epic’s cloud-based Community Registries for data collection and insights in the American Joint Replacement Registry (AJRR) in 2026.

This strategic initiative will make it easier for health systems to participate in AJRR by reducing the burden of data collection and making more information available in real time to improve patient care. According to James I. Huddleston, III, MD, FAAOS, chair of the AJRR Steering Committee, the integration reflects AJRR’s priority of advancing patient care through data that can influence the quality and effectiveness of treatments across the nation.

The integration of Epic’s Community Registries will support AJRR participating sites in realizing transformative benefits:

• Enhanced clinical decision-making: Automated data entry will give surgeons near-real-time outcomes data that can be benchmarked nationally, supporting more informed treatment decisions and improving clinical workflows.
• Improved quality improvement and operational efficiency: Clinicians and quality-improvement teams will gain access to more complete, current data. Hospitals will benefit from improved operational and financial efficiency through reduced administrative burden.
• Better patient outcomes: Streamlined data collection and actionable insights will support higher-quality care, patient safety, and treatment outcomes across participating sites.
• Simplified data-specification adoption: Sites will transition to the new 2025 specifications within the Master Data Dictionary to meet AJRR’s Minimum Data Set requirements, ensuring continuity as legacy specifications are phased out in 2026.

“AAOS is committed to continuously evolving our Registry Program to meet the changing needs of orthopaedic surgeons, healthcare teams, and their patients,” Dr. Huddleston said. “The completeness of AJRR data directly impacts the quality of patient care. By modernizing our data-collection infrastructure and rolling out the Minimum Data Set requirements, we’re not just collecting information — we’re providing surgeons and institutions with the high-quality, actionable data they need to guide treatment decisions and improve surgical outcomes in real time. This AJRR integration with Epic Community Registries empowers participating sites to deliver evidence-based care while significantly reducing administrative complexity.”

“With Community Registries, it’ll be easier to participate in AJRR — saving hospitals time while strengthening data quality,” said Mayank Abhishek, who leads Community Registries research and development at Epic. “What excites me most is the real-time insights to help clinicians advance orthopaedic care.”

AJRR is the first AAOS Registry to implement this modernized data-collection approach, with potential expansion of Community Registries to other AAOS registries based on the success of this initiative. The implementation will maintain AAOS’ rigorous data-
security and privacy standards, with data transfer limited to specifications defined in active AJRR contracts.

To learn more about AJRR, contact an AAOS Registry engagement associate at RegistryEngagement@aaos.org.