Generics are Coming! Generics are Coming! (written by Dr. Blair Rhode for ORTHOPRENEUR Nov 2011)
Blair Rhode, M.D. is a sports medicine orthopaedic surgeon who saw an opportunity and a need for generic-based implants. He started RoG Sports Medicine (www.buyrog.com) in 2010 as an EcoOrtho® company.
Dr. Rhodes 4-part article:
Why Implant Costs have Stayed High
Generics—It’s About Process
The First Step
In Summary
All Generic articles on OrthoStreams
Why Implant Costs have Stayed High
The orthopaedic industry has done an excellent job of creating a dependence upon sales reps and what they offer. The sales rep has allowed the hospital and surgery center to “dumb down” the OR staff, because a laser pointer awaits the next instrument needed in the case. They also fostered instrument and implant consignment, allowing the OR to get out from under these costs. But this didn’t come without a cost of its own.
The U.S. orthopaedic implant industry is a $20 to $25 billion business (author estimate), and amazingly, almost 75% of these time-tested (stable) technologies have expiring patents. This typically means it is no longer necessary to continue to pay a premium for these products. ...
