The Palm Beach Post’s “Ask the Expert” column features Nicholas Sama, MD, orthopedic trauma surgeon at HSS Florida, discussing why patient education leads to better outcomes.

Dr. Sama explains how patient outcomes after orthopedic procedures depends not only on the quality of the medical providers but also on how well the patient actively participates in his or her treatment.

According to Dr. Sama, the physician is the “captain” of the team and it is his or her responsibility to educate the patient - in layman’s terms - about the problem, care options, risks, benefits and prognosis.

He writes that educating patients to embrace autonomy over their road to recovery helps minimize deficiencies in the care system, leading to better outcomes.

This appeared in the print edition on December 27, 2020.