Practice Frictions Survey

AAHKS Arthroplasty Practice Friction & Sustainability Survey
What’s getting in your way?

AAHKS is evaluating operational and structural barriers that affect arthroplasty surgeon performance, efficiency, and long-term career sustainability.

This survey focuses on practical realities:
• What slows you down
• What frustrates you
• What feels like low-value work
• What would meaningfully improve your professional life

Estimated time: approximately 7 minutes.
Responses are confidential and will only be reported in the aggregate.

Practice Profile

Question Title

1. Gender:

Male

Female

Non-Binary

Prefer to self-describe

Prefer not to say

Question Title

2. Years in practice:

1–5

6–10

11–20

21–30

>30

Prefer not to say

Question Title

3. What best describes your primary practice model?

Private Practice (solo or <10 clinicians)

Private practice (10 or more clinicians)

Multispecialty group

Hospital Employed

Academic / University

Military or VA Hospital

Other

Question Title

4. Is your practice backed by private equity?

Yes

Question Title

5. If you could change your practice model today, what would you choose?

I would not change my practice model

Private practice

Multispecialty group

Hospital employed

Academic / University

Military or VA Hospital

Other

Question Title

6. Average hours worked per week (clinical + administrative):

<40

40–60

61–80

>80

Prefer not to say

Compensation Model

Question Title

7. What is your primary compensation model?

Fee for service

Relative value unit (RVU) based

Fixed salary

Salary plus performance incentive

Other

Question Title

8. If you could change your compensation model today, what would you choose?

I would not change my compensation model

Fee for service

Relative value unit (RVU) based

Fixed salary

Salary plus performance incentive

Other

Question Title

9. On a scale of 1–5, how satisfied are you with your overall compensation?

Very satisfied

Satisfied

Neutral

Dissatisfied

Very dissatisfied

Question Title

10. Do you feel your compensation is fair relative to your workload?

Very fair

Somewhat fair

Neutral

Somewhat unfair

Very unfair

Workload & Sustainability Snapshot

Burnout is defined as a state of emotional exhaustion and reduced sense of personal accomplishment.

Question Title

11. In the past year, how often have you felt burned out from your work?

Never

A few times a year

Once a month

A few times a month

Once a week

A few times a week

Every day

Question Title

12. On a scale from 0 to 10, how burned out do you feel currently?
(0 = Not at all burned out | 10 = Completely burned out)

Clear

i We adjusted the number you entered based on the slider’s scale.

Question Title

13. How likely are you to leave orthopaedic surgery within the next 5 years?

Very unlikely

Unlikely

Neutral

Likely

Very likely

Operational Friction

Question Title

14. What percentage of your professional time feels like unnecessary or low-value work?

<10%

10–25%

26–50%

51-75%

>75%

Question Title

15. How often do you leave work frustrated by factors outside your clinical control?

Never

Rarely

Sometimes

Frequently

Almost daily

Question Title

16. Here are potential factors of what may slow you down or irritate you at work. Please rank each from 1 to 10 based on how much they impact you.
(1 = Least Impact | 10 = Most Impact)

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10
EMR / EMR inbox burden	EMR / EMR inbox burden 1	EMR / EMR inbox burden 2	EMR / EMR inbox burden 3	EMR / EMR inbox burden 4	EMR / EMR inbox burden 5	EMR / EMR inbox burden 6	EMR / EMR inbox burden 7	EMR / EMR inbox burden 8	EMR / EMR inbox burden 9	EMR / EMR inbox burden 10
Insurance / prior authorization	Insurance / prior authorization 1	Insurance / prior authorization 2	Insurance / prior authorization 3	Insurance / prior authorization 4	Insurance / prior authorization 5	Insurance / prior authorization 6	Insurance / prior authorization 7	Insurance / prior authorization 8	Insurance / prior authorization 9	Insurance / prior authorization 10
Clinic inefficiency	Clinic inefficiency 1	Clinic inefficiency 2	Clinic inefficiency 3	Clinic inefficiency 4	Clinic inefficiency 5	Clinic inefficiency 6	Clinic inefficiency 7	Clinic inefficiency 8	Clinic inefficiency 9	Clinic inefficiency 10
OR delays	OR delays 1	OR delays 2	OR delays 3	OR delays 4	OR delays 5	OR delays 6	OR delays 7	OR delays 8	OR delays 9	OR delays 10
Staffing turnover	Staffing turnover 1	Staffing turnover 2	Staffing turnover 3	Staffing turnover 4	Staffing turnover 5	Staffing turnover 6	Staffing turnover 7	Staffing turnover 8	Staffing turnover 9	Staffing turnover 10
Administrative oversight	Administrative oversight 1	Administrative oversight 2	Administrative oversight 3	Administrative oversight 4	Administrative oversight 5	Administrative oversight 6	Administrative oversight 7	Administrative oversight 8	Administrative oversight 9	Administrative oversight 10
CMS / reporting burden	CMS / reporting burden 1	CMS / reporting burden 2	CMS / reporting burden 3	CMS / reporting burden 4	CMS / reporting burden 5	CMS / reporting burden 6	CMS / reporting burden 7	CMS / reporting burden 8	CMS / reporting burden 9	CMS / reporting burden 10
Late add-on cases	Late add-on cases 1	Late add-on cases 2	Late add-on cases 3	Late add-on cases 4	Late add-on cases 5	Late add-on cases 6	Late add-on cases 7	Late add-on cases 8	Late add-on cases 9	Late add-on cases 10
Clinical productivity pressure (RVU/Collections)	Clinical productivity pressure (RVU/Collections) 1	Clinical productivity pressure (RVU/Collections) 2	Clinical productivity pressure (RVU/Collections) 3	Clinical productivity pressure (RVU/Collections) 4	Clinical productivity pressure (RVU/Collections) 5	Clinical productivity pressure (RVU/Collections) 6	Clinical productivity pressure (RVU/Collections) 7	Clinical productivity pressure (RVU/Collections) 8	Clinical productivity pressure (RVU/Collections) 9	Clinical productivity pressure (RVU/Collections) 10
Loss of autonomy	Loss of autonomy 1	Loss of autonomy 2	Loss of autonomy 3	Loss of autonomy 4	Loss of autonomy 5	Loss of autonomy 6	Loss of autonomy 7	Loss of autonomy 8	Loss of autonomy 9	Loss of autonomy 10
Complication management stress	Complication management stress 1	Complication management stress 2	Complication management stress 3	Complication management stress 4	Complication management stress 5	Complication management stress 6	Complication management stress 7	Complication management stress 8	Complication management stress 9	Complication management stress 10
Unrealistic patient expectations	Unrealistic patient expectations 1	Unrealistic patient expectations 2	Unrealistic patient expectations 3	Unrealistic patient expectations 4	Unrealistic patient expectations 5	Unrealistic patient expectations 6	Unrealistic patient expectations 7	Unrealistic patient expectations 8	Unrealistic patient expectations 9	Unrealistic patient expectations 10
Reimbursement decline	Reimbursement decline 1	Reimbursement decline 2	Reimbursement decline 3	Reimbursement decline 4	Reimbursement decline 5	Reimbursement decline 6	Reimbursement decline 7	Reimbursement decline 8	Reimbursement decline 9	Reimbursement decline 10
Professional isolation	Professional isolation 1	Professional isolation 2	Professional isolation 3	Professional isolation 4	Professional isolation 5	Professional isolation 6	Professional isolation 7	Professional isolation 8	Professional isolation 9	Professional isolation 10
Physical strain	Physical strain 1	Physical strain 2	Physical strain 3	Physical strain 4	Physical strain 5	Physical strain 6	Physical strain 7	Physical strain 8	Physical strain 9	Physical strain 10
Non-clinical tasks – Too many emails	Non-clinical tasks – Too many emails 1	Non-clinical tasks – Too many emails 2	Non-clinical tasks – Too many emails 3	Non-clinical tasks – Too many emails 4	Non-clinical tasks – Too many emails 5	Non-clinical tasks – Too many emails 6	Non-clinical tasks – Too many emails 7	Non-clinical tasks – Too many emails 8	Non-clinical tasks – Too many emails 9	Non-clinical tasks – Too many emails 10
Non-clinical tasks – Too many society commitments	Non-clinical tasks – Too many society commitments 1	Non-clinical tasks – Too many society commitments 2	Non-clinical tasks – Too many society commitments 3	Non-clinical tasks – Too many society commitments 4	Non-clinical tasks – Too many society commitments 5	Non-clinical tasks – Too many society commitments 6	Non-clinical tasks – Too many society commitments 7	Non-clinical tasks – Too many society commitments 8	Non-clinical tasks – Too many society commitments 9	Non-clinical tasks – Too many society commitments 10
Non-clinical tasks – Too many hospital commitments	Non-clinical tasks – Too many hospital commitments 1	Non-clinical tasks – Too many hospital commitments 2	Non-clinical tasks – Too many hospital commitments 3	Non-clinical tasks – Too many hospital commitments 4	Non-clinical tasks – Too many hospital commitments 5	Non-clinical tasks – Too many hospital commitments 6	Non-clinical tasks – Too many hospital commitments 7	Non-clinical tasks – Too many hospital commitments 8	Non-clinical tasks – Too many hospital commitments 9	Non-clinical tasks – Too many hospital commitments 10
Non-clinical tasks – Too many research commitments	Non-clinical tasks – Too many research commitments 1	Non-clinical tasks – Too many research commitments 2	Non-clinical tasks – Too many research commitments 3	Non-clinical tasks – Too many research commitments 4	Non-clinical tasks – Too many research commitments 5	Non-clinical tasks – Too many research commitments 6	Non-clinical tasks – Too many research commitments 7	Non-clinical tasks – Too many research commitments 8	Non-clinical tasks – Too many research commitments 9	Non-clinical tasks – Too many research commitments 10
Non-clinical tasks – Too many consulting commitments	Non-clinical tasks – Too many consulting commitments 1	Non-clinical tasks – Too many consulting commitments 2	Non-clinical tasks – Too many consulting commitments 3	Non-clinical tasks – Too many consulting commitments 4	Non-clinical tasks – Too many consulting commitments 5	Non-clinical tasks – Too many consulting commitments 6	Non-clinical tasks – Too many consulting commitments 7	Non-clinical tasks – Too many consulting commitments 8	Non-clinical tasks – Too many consulting commitments 9	Non-clinical tasks – Too many consulting commitments 10
Personal issues (outside of work)	Personal issues (outside of work) 1	Personal issues (outside of work) 2	Personal issues (outside of work) 3	Personal issues (outside of work) 4	Personal issues (outside of work) 5	Personal issues (outside of work) 6	Personal issues (outside of work) 7	Personal issues (outside of work) 8	Personal issues (outside of work) 9	Personal issues (outside of work) 10

Other

Professional Control & Work Conditions

Question Title

17. I have sufficient control over my workload.

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Question Title

18. My work pace is sustainable long term.

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Question Title

19. l feel pressured to work faster than I am comfortable with.

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

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20. The amount of time I spend on documentation is reasonable.

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Question Title

21. I spend excessive time completing documentation at home.

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Professional Meaning & Alignment

Question Title

22. My professional values are well aligned with those of my organization

Strongly agree

Agree

Neutral

Disagree

Strongly disagree

Retention Identity

Question Title

23. If you were finishing college today, would you choose medicine again?

Definitely Yes

Probably Yes

Unsure

Probably Not

Definitely Not

Question Title

24. If you were finishing medical school today, would you choose orthopaedic surgery again?

Definitely yes

Probably yes

Unsure

Probably not

Definitely not

Question Title

25. If you would choose orthopaedic surgery again, would you still specialize in arthroplasty?

Definitely yes

Probably yes

Unsure

Probably not

Definitely not

Direct Feedback

Question Title

26. If you could permanently eliminate ONE persistent frustration from your professional life, what would it be?

Professional Stress

Question Title

27. Would concern about your medical license make you hesitant to seek mental health care if needed?

Yes

Follow-Up Study

Question Title

28. Would you be willing to complete a more detailed follow-up survey (~12 minutes) focused on practical solutions?

Yes, please enter your email address:

Practice Frictions Survey

Question Title

* 1. Gender:

Question Title

* 2. Years in practice:

Question Title

* 3. What best describes your primary practice model?

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* 4. Is your practice backed by private equity?

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* 5. If you could change your practice model today, what would you choose?

Question Title

* 6. Average hours worked per week (clinical + administrative):

Question Title

* 7. What is your primary compensation model?

Question Title

* 8. If you could change your compensation model today, what would you choose?

Question Title

* 9. On a scale of 1–5, how satisfied are you with your overall compensation?

Question Title

* 10. Do you feel your compensation is fair relative to your workload?

Question Title

* 11. In the past year, how often have you felt burned out from your work?

Question Title

* 12. On a scale from 0 to 10, how burned out do you feel currently?(0 = Not at all burned out | 10 = Completely burned out)

Question Title

* 13. How likely are you to leave orthopaedic surgery within the next 5 years?

Question Title

* 14. What percentage of your professional time feels like unnecessary or low-value work?

Question Title

* 15. How often do you leave work frustrated by factors outside your clinical control?

Question Title

* 16. Here are potential factors of what may slow you down or irritate you at work. Please rank each from 1 to 10 based on how much they impact you.(1 = Least Impact | 10 = Most Impact)

Question Title

* 17. I have sufficient control over my workload.

Question Title

* 18. My work pace is sustainable long term.

Question Title

* 19. l feel pressured to work faster than I am comfortable with.

Question Title

* 20. The amount of time I spend on documentation is reasonable.

Question Title

* 21. I spend excessive time completing documentation at home.

Question Title

* 22. My professional values are well aligned with those of my organization

Question Title

* 23. If you were finishing college today, would you choose medicine again?

Question Title

* 24. If you were finishing medical school today, would you choose orthopaedic surgery again?

Question Title

* 25. If you would choose orthopaedic surgery again, would you still specialize in arthroplasty?

Question Title

* 26. If you could permanently eliminate ONE persistent frustration from your professional life, what would it be?

Question Title

* 27. Would concern about your medical license make you hesitant to seek mental health care if needed?

Question Title

* 28. Would you be willing to complete a more detailed follow-up survey (~12 minutes) focused on practical solutions?

1. Gender:

2. Years in practice:

3. What best describes your primary practice model?

4. Is your practice backed by private equity?

5. If you could change your practice model today, what would you choose?

6. Average hours worked per week (clinical + administrative):

7. What is your primary compensation model?

8. If you could change your compensation model today, what would you choose?

9. On a scale of 1–5, how satisfied are you with your overall compensation?

10. Do you feel your compensation is fair relative to your workload?

11. In the past year, how often have you felt burned out from your work?

12. On a scale from 0 to 10, how burned out do you feel currently?
(0 = Not at all burned out | 10 = Completely burned out)

13. How likely are you to leave orthopaedic surgery within the next 5 years?

14. What percentage of your professional time feels like unnecessary or low-value work?

15. How often do you leave work frustrated by factors outside your clinical control?

16. Here are potential factors of what may slow you down or irritate you at work. Please rank each from 1 to 10 based on how much they impact you.
(1 = Least Impact | 10 = Most Impact)

17. I have sufficient control over my workload.

18. My work pace is sustainable long term.

19. l feel pressured to work faster than I am comfortable with.

20. The amount of time I spend on documentation is reasonable.

21. I spend excessive time completing documentation at home.

22. My professional values are well aligned with those of my organization

23. If you were finishing college today, would you choose medicine again?

24. If you were finishing medical school today, would you choose orthopaedic surgery again?

25. If you would choose orthopaedic surgery again, would you still specialize in arthroplasty?

26. If you could permanently eliminate ONE persistent frustration from your professional life, what would it be?

27. Would concern about your medical license make you hesitant to seek mental health care if needed?

28. Would you be willing to complete a more detailed follow-up survey (~12 minutes) focused on practical solutions?