The Future of Orthopedic Care: How AI Is Helping Patients Stay Informed and Recover Faster

Commure Team
 | 
May 14, 2025

Discover how AI-powered digital tools are transforming orthopedic care—improving patient engagement, speeding recovery, and reducing readmissions through smarter, more personalized support.

Orthopedic care isn’t just about surgery. It’s also about how well patients are supported throughout their journey—from preparing for treatment to healing afterward. As healthcare shifts to focus more on value-based care, hospitals and orthopedic practices are looking for better ways to keep patients informed, involved, and on track.

Thanks to new technology, digital tools powered by artificial intelligence (AI) are helping to make this possible. These tools, sometimes referred to as patient care journeys, guide patients before and after surgery, answer questions, send helpful reminders, and alert care teams when something might be wrong. This not only helps patients feel more confident, but it also leads to better health outcomes—like shorter hospital stays and fewer people returning to the hospital soon after discharge.

Why Patient Engagement Matters in Orthopedic Care

Orthopedic patients—whether they’re getting a joint replacement, healing from a sports injury, or managing long-term muscle or bone issues—often have a lot to keep track of. Preparing for surgery, recovering at home, and following rehab plans can feel overwhelming without the right support.

When patients don’t feel connected to their care team or don’t understand what to do next, problems can happen. They might miss appointments, skip important steps, or end up with complications that require another hospital visit. That’s why clear communication and ongoing support are so important.

How Digital Tools Help Keep Patients on Track

AI is changing the way patients experience care. Instead of feeling confused or forgotten, patients can now get personalized help throughout their journey. Here’s how these digital tools support orthopedic patients:

1. Helpful Guidance Before Surgery

AI-powered platforms like Commure Engage can send customized instructions, reminders, and educational materials to patients before their procedure. This helps patients feel more prepared and reduces the chance of last-minute cancellations.

2. Support During Recovery

Recovering from surgery is a critical time. These tools check in with patients automatically, collect feedback about how they’re feeling, and notify the care team if something seems off. This helps catch problems earlier and reduces readmissions.

3. Better Communication with Care Teams

Patients can message their care team, ask questions, or get updates through digital assistants or chatbots. This makes it easier to stay in touch without needing a clinic visit. Doctors and nurses can also use AI to make note-taking during visits faster and smoother, so they can focus more on the patient.

4. Smooth Coordination Between Providers

Orthopedic care often includes many people—surgeons, physical therapists, and home health aides. AI tools help make sure everyone stays informed and that patients get the right support at the right time.

Real Results from AI-Powered Engagement

Studies suggest that the power of digitally-enabled patient engagement is already here. For example, at Mount Sinai Hospital, Commure Engage helped improve orthopedic patient care in measurable ways for patients enrolled in the orthopedic digital care pathway:

  • Patients left the hospital 1.5 days earlier on average.

  • Fewer patients were readmitted within 30 days, which means better recovery and lower costs.

Commure Engage, our patient experience platform, is even more advanced with the integration of Memora Health’s technology and agentic AI, offering more intelligent automation, deeper personalization, and expanded support across the orthopedic patient journey.

What’s Next in Orthopedic Engagement

In the future, digital engagement in orthopedics will keep advancing and making a greater impact on patient care. We’ll see tools that:

  • Use predictive insights to spot potential problems before they happen.

  • Offer 24/7 conversational support for patients with orthopedic needs.

  • Connect with electronic health records and wearable devices to track patient progress in real time.

Orthopedic care is evolving. It’s no longer just about what happens in the operating room—it’s also about how well we support patients every step of the way. By using AI-powered digital tools, providers can offer a better experience, build stronger relationships, and help patients heal faster.

Want to learn more?

👉 Read the full case study to see how Commure Engage is already transforming orthopedic care at Mount Sinai.

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