Harvard economist Michael Porter has written that Value=outcomes/costs.  Value=efficiency.   Using this formula, value is now measured by the medical outcomes achieved, rather than, as had been done in prior years, by the volume of services delivered.   This emphasis on ‘value’ promotes a shift in thinking from volume to outcomes and focuses on the cost of a patient’s entire care cycle. There is currently not a single book in pediatric orthopaedics that discusses the many ways physicians and practitioners can use the principles of the value equation to provide better care to their patients and to society.  This text fills this gap with practical, actual case-based examples to help demonstrate this value.

The objective of this book is to describe pediatric orthopaedic musculoskeletal themes that clinicians and patients should question and stop doing or modify to improve the care for children. It identifies tests, procedures, and practices commonly used in pediatric orthopaedics whose necessity should be questioned and discussed with patients and potentially abandoned. It also promotes conversations between pediatric orthopaedic clinicians and patients to help patients choose care that is evidence based, truly necessary, not duplicative, and free from harm.

Comprised of clinical cases, each chapter follows a distinct and uniform format.  Every chapter includes keywords, an abstract, a case example, author pearls, comments by both editors, and references. Written by experts in the field, Value in Pediatric Orthopaedics is the definitive guide to quality care in Pediatric Orthopaedics.

Dr. Hennrikus is Professor of Orthopaedics at the Penn State College of Medicine, Hershey, PA.  He completed his orthopaedic residency at the Balboa Naval Hospital, San Diego, CA and Pediatric Orthopaedic Fellowship at Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.  Dr. Hennrikus has received numerous awards for his teaching, research, and global health work including the AAP Distinguished Service Award, the Dean’s teaching award at Penn State, and the annual resident teaching award at Balbo Naval Hospital (3 awards) and at Penn State (3 awards).  He is a Board Member of American Academy of Pediatrics Pennsylvania chapter. Dr Hennrikus is a retired CAPT in the US Navy. 

Dr. Schwend is Professor of Orthopaedics, University of Missouri, Kansas City and Kansas University.  He completed his orthopaedic residency at Harvard Combined Orthopaedic Program and Pediatric Orthopaedic Fellowship at Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.  Dr. Schwend is a Past President of POSNA. He has received numerous awards for his international work, including the SRS Blount Humanitarian Award, POSNA Special Effort Award, POSNA Humanitarian Award, AAP Distinguished Service Award, and the Orthopaedic Residency Educator Award. He is a Board Member of Project Perfect World, which since 2002 has been developing a pediatric orthopaedic program in Ecuador. He is a retired Colonel in the USAF.