Driving Growth and Digital Transformation in Orthopedics: A Deep Dive with Nyleen Flores

In the August 3, 2025 episode of the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, host Laura Duda engages in an insightful conversation with Nyleen Flores, Administrator and Chief Operating Officer at Lake Okoni Orthopedics. Flores, who also owns Med Elevate Solutions, brings over 18 years of experience in healthcare, focusing on streamlining operations for Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs) across the United States. This episode delves into the current trends, opportunities, challenges, and future growth strategies within the orthopedic and broader healthcare landscape.

1. Nyleen Flores: A Dual Role in Orthopedics and Healthcare Solutions

Nyleen Flores introduces herself as a seasoned professional based in Georgia, managing an orthopedic practice and operating Med Elevate Solutions. Her dual roles position her uniquely to influence both clinical operations and the administrative efficiencies of ASCs nationwide. Flores remarks:

“I am having a lot of fun exploring and growing orthopedics in many different areas and I have over about 18 years in healthcare overall.”
— Nyleen Flores, 00:31

2. Top Three Trends Shaping Healthcare and ASCs

Flores outlines three pivotal trends currently transforming healthcare and ASCs:

a. Shift Towards Paperless Operations

The healthcare sector is increasingly adopting Electronic Health Records (EHRs) and other digital documentation systems. Flores emphasizes the generational shift in leadership fostering this movement:

“We have a continued shift really towards paperless operations, including a broader implementation of EHRs and electronic logging systems and digital documentation systems overall.”
— Nyleen Flores, 01:31

b. Consolidation of Independently Owned ASCs

There is a noticeable decline in independently owned ASCs due to consolidation with larger health systems and private equity investments. This trend reflects a broader shift towards employed physicians and integrated healthcare models.

c. Enhanced Focus on Quality Metrics and Transparency

Heightened emphasis on quality metrics and transparency is driving accountability and patient-centered care. Social media and digital platforms are empowering physicians to voice systemic issues, potentially leading to significant reforms in healthcare reimbursement and payer-provider relationships.

“I love the openness and platforms, social media and different platforms being utilized to empower physicians to basically say what is wrong with the healthcare system.”
— Nyleen Flores, 02:57

3. Opportunities in Outpatient Care and ASC Growth

Flores identifies substantial growth opportunities within the ASC industry, particularly in expanding outpatient services and increasing the acuity of cases handled outside hospital settings. She highlights the benefits of providing higher acuity care in outpatient environments, which facilitates patient recovery at home and reduces overall healthcare costs.

“Hopefully the growth of the ASC industry overall, bringing patients outpatient... we're seeing higher acuity cases being performed outpatient.”
— Nyleen Flores, 03:49

However, Flores also points out regulatory challenges, especially in rural areas like Georgia, where Certificate of Need (CON) laws restrict the establishment of new surgery centers, limiting access for small practices and independent physicians.

“We are subject to Certificate of Need law here in Georgia. So it limits a little bit access to surgery centers for a small practice or an independent physician that's not part of a large group or a healthcare system.”
— Nyleen Flores, 04:29

4. Navigating Digital Transformation in Surgery Centers

Digital transformation is a cornerstone of Flores' strategy to optimize operational efficiency and enhance patient care. She advocates for a complete shift away from paper-based systems to fully integrated digital solutions.

“Focusing on expanding service lines to meet growing demand while optimizing operational efficiency through implementing something I believe very deeply in, which is a complete digital transformation.”
— Nyleen Flores, 06:10

Despite its advantages, Flores acknowledges significant roadblocks to digital adoption:

a. Human Resistance to Change

Change management remains a primary challenge, as staff accustomed to traditional methods may resist transitioning to new digital platforms. Successful transformation often requires strong leadership and champions within the organization to drive adoption.

“The biggest hurdle is they're just used to doing things their way and change is hard.”
— Nyleen Flores, 07:32

b. Financial Constraints

Initial costs for digital platforms can be prohibitive, encompassing software investments and staff training expenses. However, Flores argues that the long-term benefits and return on investment justify these upfront costs.

“When you do a cost-benefit analysis, truly, honestly, and just get over that initial hump, you'll realize that the benefits way outweigh any cost.”
— Nyleen Flores, 08:50

5. Strategic Growth and Innovative Procedures at Lake Okoni Orthopedics

Looking ahead, Flores outlines Lake Okoni Orthopedics' ambitious growth plans for the next 12 months, which include:

a. Expanding the Practitioner Base

The practice is set to add another orthopedic practitioner, enhancing its capacity to serve a growing patient base.

b. Introducing Advanced Surgical Procedures

A significant highlight is the introduction of thumb replacement surgery using Biopro, a full joint replacement of the Carpometacarpal (CMC) joints. This innovative procedure allows patients to retain full thumb functionality, a remarkable advancement over traditional methods that often result in thumb shortening.

“Our main orthopedic surgeon is performing a thumb replacement surgery with Biopro... allowing them to keep their full thumb and have great use.”
— Nyleen Flores, 09:56

Notably, Lake Okoni Orthopedics is pioneering this procedure in Georgia, performing successful surgeries that have enabled patients with limited hand functionality to regain significant dexterity and quality of life.

6. Conclusion: Embracing Innovation and Efficiency

The conversation between Laura Duda and Nyleen Flores underscores the dynamic changes and opportunities within the orthopedic and broader healthcare sectors. Flores' insights into digital transformation, strategic growth, and innovative patient care highlight a forward-thinking approach essential for navigating the evolving landscape. Her commitment to enhancing operational efficiency and expanding advanced service lines positions Lake Okoni Orthopedics as a leader in delivering high-quality, patient-centered care.

“We've got to grow, we've got to optimize all of our digital solutions to work efficiently, smarter.”
— Nyleen Flores, 06:10

As the healthcare industry continues to evolve, leaders like Flores are instrumental in driving growth, fostering innovation, and ensuring that patient care remains at the forefront of operational strategies.