Christopher Nanson, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, Oregon Surgical Institute

Summary

Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: In-Depth Summary of Episode Featuring Dr. Christopher Nanson

Podcast Information:

• Title: Becker’s Healthcare Podcast
• Host/Author: Becker's Healthcare
• Description: The Becker's Healthcare Podcast is devoted to the people who power U.S. healthcare. Four new 15-minute episodes are released daily containing industry news, analysis, and thought leadership from powerful healthcare decision-makers.
• Episode: Christopher Nanson, MD, Orthopedic Surgeon, Oregon Surgical Institute
• Release Date: July 12, 2025

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1. Introduction

In this insightful episode of the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, host Riz Hatton engages in a compelling conversation with Dr. Christopher Nanson, an esteemed orthopedic surgeon and the program director of the Oregon Surgical Institute’s Hip and Knee Arthroplasty Program. The discussion delves into the evolving landscape of orthopedics, spine care, and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs), shedding light on current trends, future projections, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.

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2. Guest Background

Dr. Nanson provides a comprehensive overview of his professional journey, highlighting his extensive training and leadership within the orthopedic community.

• Timestamp [00:33]: Dr. Nanson shares, “I am a fellowship-trained hip and knee replacement surgeon, native Oregonian, but trained all over the country.”

He elaborates on his role in developing the Oregon Surgical Institute’s surgery center, emphasizing its pioneering status in the region.

• Timestamp [00:45]: “We developed the surgery center, really the first one in the region that was kind of specifically built for doing total joints in the ASC setting.”

Since its inception in 2018, the center has achieved significant milestones, becoming the highest volume total joint facility in Oregon, surpassing even hospital settings.

• Timestamp [01:08]: “We were the highest volume total joint facility in the state, including all hospitals last year in the state of Oregon.”

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3. Current Trends in Orthopedics

Dr. Nanson identifies key trends reshaping the orthopedic field, particularly focusing on market consolidation and the integration of advanced technologies.

• Timestamp [01:33]: “It seems to be, particularly in orthopedics, a lot about consolidation.”

He points out the fragmented nature of the market, characterized by numerous small, fee-for-service practices lacking the presence of large, unified groups like Rothman or Arthrex.

• Timestamp [01:40]: “We’ve got a very fragmented market here with a lot of small groups, kind of traditional small fee for service practices.”

Dr. Nanson also underscores the growing importance of technology and artificial intelligence in managing population health, which is increasingly becoming a focal point in orthopedic care.

• Timestamp [01:50]: “...the ability to utilize technology and AI to manage more population size level health.”

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4. Future Evolution of Orthopedic Practices and ASCs

Looking ahead, Dr. Nanson forecasts significant changes in the structure and operation of orthopedic and spine practices, as well as ASCs.

• Timestamp [02:26]: “I think we’re going to see in smaller markets like ours that increased trend for consolidation, formation of bigger groups.”

He anticipates larger organizations expanding into new regions, much like the Rothman Institute’s expansion into Seattle, and emphasizes the shift towards population-level management of musculoskeletal health.

• Timestamp [02:35]: “...you’re going to have a lot of groups trying to engage more in population level management of orthopedic issues.”

Dr. Nanson highlights the necessity of building robust organizations that integrate surgical and non-operative care, leveraging technology to maintain consistency and high-quality outcomes.

• Timestamp [03:15]: “...building a robust organization not only with orthopedic surgeons, but with other providers that can help manage the patient burden as well as the technology to keep things consistent and maintain high quality outcomes.”

He also notes the increasing strain on hospital systems post-COVID, positioning ASCs as critical venues for meeting patient care demands.

• Timestamp [03:45]: “...the stress on the hospital systems really nationwide has kind of proven too much for the hospitals, particularly in our area, to handle the volume of patient care they need to.”

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5. Challenges in Orthopedic Healthcare

Addressing the hurdles on the horizon, Dr. Nanson discusses staffing issues, maintaining quality, and the evolving role of physicians in larger healthcare organizations.

• Timestamp [04:33]: “...current challenges of staffing issues, maintaining a happy staff, maintaining consistency so that you know you have good, quality, consistent outcomes.”

He emphasizes the critical need for physician-led organizations to adapt, ensuring that doctors can focus on patient care without being bogged down by administrative burdens.

• Timestamp [05:00]: “...maintaining the driver's seat in healthcare as physicians and physician-led organizations.”

Dr. Nanson anticipates a paradigm shift from small, independent practices to more integrated healthcare organizations, citing the importance of effective leadership in this transition.

• Timestamp [05:30]: “...ensuring that you've got the right leaders in position so that the docs can be docs and take care of patients.”

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6. Opportunities and Optimism in the Future of Healthcare

Despite the challenges, Dr. Nanson expresses a positive outlook on the future of healthcare, highlighting opportunities for innovation and improvement.

• Timestamp [06:24]: “I think there's a lot of room for growth. I think there's room for positive change.”

He is particularly enthusiastic about the potential for motivated individuals to drive innovation within ASCs, contributing to enhanced patient care and systemic improvements.

• Timestamp [06:45]: “...room for smart, motivated, driven people to be in the healthcare space and create some innovation and some change for the betterment of patient care.”

Dr. Nanson views the current era as a catalyst for meaningful advancements, positioning ASCs as pivotal players in the modernization of America’s healthcare system.

• Timestamp [07:10]: “...very exciting to be in the ASC space and... to contribute to some of the change and making America's healthcare system better.”

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7. Conclusion

The episode concludes with a mutual expression of gratitude, underscoring the valuable insights shared by Dr. Nanson. His perspectives offer a comprehensive understanding of the dynamic changes within orthopedic healthcare and the broader implications for ASCs and patient care.

• Timestamp [07:27]: Host Riz Hatton remarks, “Thank you so much, Dr. Nansen, for that fascinating discussion.”

Dr. Nanson reciprocates the sentiment, emphasizing the pleasure of the conversation.

• Timestamp [07:35]: “All right, well, thanks for having me. It was a pleasure talking today.”

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Key Takeaways

• Market Consolidation: The orthopedic field is moving towards larger, consolidated groups to enhance efficiency and patient management.

• Technological Integration: Advanced technologies and AI are becoming essential tools for managing population health and maintaining high-quality care.

• ASC Growth: Ambulatory Surgery Centers are emerging as vital facilities capable of handling increasing patient volumes, especially as hospitals face capacity challenges.

• Physician Leadership: There is a critical need for physician-led organizations that allow doctors to focus on patient care while effective leadership manages administrative responsibilities.

• Optimism for Innovation: Despite existing challenges, there is significant potential for innovation and positive change within the healthcare landscape, particularly in ASCs.

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This episode of the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast provides a thorough exploration of the current state and future trajectory of orthopedic practices and ASCs, enriched by Dr. Nanson’s expert insights and forward-thinking perspectives.

Transcript

[A]

This is Riz Hatton with the Beckers Healthcare podcast. I'm thrilled today to be joined by Dr. Chris Nansen, program director of the Oregon Surgical Institute Hip and knee arthroplasty program for a fireside chat about the big trends and topics in orthopedics, spine and surgery centers today. Dr. Nansen, thank you so much for being here.

[B]

Well, thanks for having me. Pleasure to join.

[A]

So before we dive into our discussion today, could you tell us just a little bit more about yourself and your background?

[B]

Yeah, absolutely. I am a fellowship trained hip and knee replacement surgeon, native Oregonian, but trained all over the country. Did my fellowship at Ortho Carolina, now am part of a group we developed surgery center, really the first one in the region that was kind of specifically built for doing total joints in the ASC setting. We started this project about 2015, we opened in 2018 and now we're over four years in. And so I've been serving as the program director for our outpatient arthroplasty program and proud to say that we were the highest volume total joint facility in the state, including all hospitals last year in the state of Oregon. So that's kind of what we've been doing out west here and things are going fairly well.

[A]

Wow, that's so great to hear. So what trends are you currently following most closely today in healthcare?

[B]

Really? It seems to be, particularly in orthopedics, a lot about consolidation. We've got a very fragmented market here with a lot of small groups, kind of traditional small fee for service practices. Not a lot of big groups, you know, no Rothmans or, you know, or core type, you know, mega groups out here. And so really following a lot of the consolidation trends and the ability to utilize technology and AI to manage more population size level health. And that's kind of got a lot of my attention right now.

[A]

Interesting. So how do you see orthopedic, spine and ASCs evolving in the next two years?

[B]

Well, I think we're going to see in smaller markets like ours that increased trend for consolidation, formation of bigger groups. I think in, you know, in certain places you're going to see, you know, larger organizations moving in. You know, we're seeing Rothman Institute, you know, expanding its footprint into Seattle. You have, you're going to have a lot of, a lot of groups trying to engage more in population level management of orthopedic issues. I think payers are interested primarily in managing everything musculoskeletal rather than just trying to manage the one small piece of musculoskeletal surgery. I think being able to create an organization that's responsive and has a good technology base and good partnerships so that you can manage not only the surgical piece through your asc, which I think is vital, but also the non operative piece through your office and managing that with your ancillary providers such as physician assistants, nurse practitioners, other folks to kind of help see those patients and manage that care. So I think you've really got to build a robust organization not only with orthopedic surgeons, but with other providers that can help manage the patient burden as well as the technology to keep things consistent and maintain high quality outcomes, in addition to ensuring that you've got a robust ASC program so that you can get these surgeries done. Because we're seeing the stress on the hospital systems really nationwide has kind of proven too much for the hospitals, particularly in our area, to handle the volume of patient care they need to. They haven't been able to kind of come back from the COVID and the staffing hit.

[A]

Interesting. And I see you kind of touched on my next question towards the end with I was wondering what challenges do you believe are ahead?

[B]

So you know, I think you have to deal with obviously the current challenges of staffing issues, maintaining a happy staff, maintaining consistency so that you know you can, you have good, quality, consistent outcomes. I think that's, that's kind of something that we're all living in right now. Certainly the hospitals are struggling more than we are, but as we kind of move beyond that, I think, you know, the biggest challenge is going to be maintaining the driver's seat in healthcare as physicians and physician led organizations. I think it's a little bit of an adapt or die strategy and you do need to have some size and you need to have some robust measures in place. I think a lot of physicians want to be physicians and they don't want to necessarily manage a large organization. I think that it's challenging to ensure that you've got the right leaders in position so that the docs can be docs and take care of patients. And I think that's going to be a real kind of paradigm shift in medicine is moving away from the small practice kind of country doc mentality to we really need to be a healthcare organization and do it better than the hospitals have traditionally done. Because like I said, part of their struggles, I think are due to their difficulty in managing their staff and keeping their staff happy and engaged. And that's why they're having a lot of staffing issues right now.

[A]

Interesting. Is there anything else that you'd like to share with us today?

[B]

You know, it's. I think there's a lot of opportunity, and, you know, I don't want to sound too pessimistic. I think there's a lot of opportunity. I think there's room for growth. I think there's room for positive change. And personally, I'm excited to kind of move on to the next generation of healthcare as we move through the post Covid era, or the living with COVID era, I should say. And I think there's just a lot of space for smart, motivated, driven people to be in the healthcare space and create some innovation and some change for the betterment of patient care and really to improve how we interact. And it's very exciting to be in the ASC space and. And seeing all of this come down and being provided the opportunity to actually maybe contribute to some of the change and making America's healthcare system better. So it's a daunting task, but I think there's a lot of reasons to be optimistic.

[A]

Well, thank you so much, Dr. Nansen, for that fascinating discussion. I look forward to connecting with you again in the future.

[B]

All right, well, thanks for having me. It was a pleasure talking today.