Tele - Orthopedic Surgery Consultation for Rural Patients

Tele-Orthopedic Surgeon

Part-Time | Flexible Schedule | Work from Anywhere | Rural Texas

Position Overview

The Rural Health Hub (RHH) is seeking an experienced Orthopedic Surgeon to provide consultative musculoskeletal and surgical care to patients in rural and medically underserved Texas communities.

This is a unique opportunity for an orthopedic surgeon who wants to remain deeply involved in patient care and clinical decision-making while reducing or eliminating the demands of an operating schedule.

The primary role is to help answer an important question for rural patients and their local clinicians:

Does this patient need orthopedic surgery?

The orthopedic surgeon will evaluate patients remotely with support from trained clinical staff on site, guide the diagnostic work-up locally, determine whether operative intervention is appropriate, and—when surgery is indicated—refer the patient to a regional orthopedic center with the appropriate evaluation and testing already completed.

The surgeon may also provide post-discharge and postoperative follow-up for patients who have returned home to their rural communities, helping maintain continuity between regional orthopedic centers and the local care team.

The Rural Health Hub Model

RHH uses a hybrid-telehealth model that combines remote specialty expertise with trained clinical personnel physically present with the patient.

Local medical assistants, nurses, physical therapists, or advanced practice providers assist with:

• Detailed history and symptom assessment

• Vital signs and medication review

• Musculoskeletal examination components

• Range-of-motion assessment

• Strength, gait, and functional assessment

• Evaluation of swelling, deformity, tenderness, and joint stability

• Neurovascular examination components

• Connected examination technology when appropriate

• Coordination of X-rays, CT, MRI, ultrasound, and other imaging

• Coordination of laboratory testing when clinically indicated

• Retrieval of prior imaging, hospital records, and operative reports

• Preoperative testing and medical clearance coordination

• Wound and incision assessment after surgery

• Communication with primary care clinicians, therapists, and regional orthopedic teams

The goal is to perform as much of the diagnostic evaluation as possible in the patient's local community.

Rather than sending a rural patient several hours away simply to determine whether orthopedic surgery is necessary, the RHH orthopedic surgeon helps complete the evaluation locally first.

When surgery is indicated, the patient can be referred to a regional orthopedic center surgery-ready, with the relevant imaging, testing, clinical documentation, and preliminary evaluation already completed.

Key Responsibilities

• Conduct initial and follow-up orthopedic consultations by telehealth

• Evaluate patients with musculoskeletal conditions that may require surgical intervention

• Determine whether operative intervention is likely to be indicated

• Differentiate patients who require surgery from those who can be managed conservatively

• Develop and guide the appropriate diagnostic work-up locally

• Review X-rays, MRI, CT, ultrasound, laboratory studies, and prior medical records

• Recommend additional imaging or diagnostic testing when needed

• Determine the appropriate urgency and level of orthopedic referral

• Refer surgery-ready patients to appropriate regional orthopedic surgeons and hospitals

• Communicate clinical findings and recommendations to the receiving orthopedic team

• Recommend conservative management, physical therapy, bracing, medications, or surveillance when surgery is not indicated

• Provide post-discharge and postoperative follow-up when appropriate

• Assess wounds, mobility, pain, range of motion, and recovery remotely with local clinical support

• Identify complications requiring urgent evaluation or return to the operating surgeon

• Coordinate care with primary care clinicians, emergency departments, physical therapists, hospitals, and regional orthopedic teams

• Complete timely documentation and clinical follow-up

Clinical Scope

Patients may include those requiring evaluation for:

• Osteoarthritis of the hip, knee, shoulder, and other joints

• Possible joint replacement

• Meniscal injuries

• Rotator cuff tears

• Shoulder instability

• ACL and other ligament injuries

• Fractures and post-fracture follow-up

• Non-healing or delayed-union fractures

• Hand and wrist conditions

• Carpal tunnel syndrome

• Trigger finger

• Tendon injuries

• Foot and ankle conditions

• Sports-related injuries

• Chronic joint pain

• Persistent musculoskeletal pain following injury

• Degenerative orthopedic conditions

• Bursitis and tendinopathy

• Abnormal orthopedic imaging requiring surgical assessment

• Post-hospitalization orthopedic follow-up

• Postoperative wound evaluation

• Follow-up after joint replacement

• Recovery following fracture fixation or other orthopedic procedures

• Determination of whether subspecialty orthopedic referral is required

Patients requiring emergency reduction, acute fracture management, invasive procedures, hospitalization, or operative intervention would be referred to the appropriate regional orthopedic facility.

The Surgery-Ready Referral Model

One of the central goals of this position is to reduce unnecessary travel and delays for rural patients.

A patient with a possible surgical orthopedic condition can be evaluated locally with the support of the tele-orthopedic surgeon. Appropriate X-rays, MRI, CT, laboratory testing, physical therapy evaluation, and other diagnostic studies can be completed near the patient's home whenever possible.

The surgeon then determines whether:

• Surgery is not currently required and the patient can be managed locally

• Conservative therapy or physical therapy should be attempted first

• Additional imaging or evaluation is needed

• A routine orthopedic surgical referral is appropriate

• An expedited surgical referral is needed

• The patient requires urgent or emergency orthopedic evaluation

For patients who need surgery, RHH works to ensure that the receiving orthopedic surgeon receives a well-evaluated patient with the appropriate diagnostic work-up already completed.

This helps regional orthopedic teams spend less time repeating basic diagnostic evaluations and allows rural patients to travel when there is a clear reason to do so.

Post-Discharge and Postoperative Care

Patients living hours from an orthopedic surgical center often face significant barriers to routine postoperative follow-up.

RHH allows appropriate follow-up visits to occur closer to home.

With local clinical personnel present, the orthopedic surgeon can:

• Assess postoperative recovery

• Evaluate wounds and incisions

• Review pain control and medications

• Assess swelling, range of motion, strength, gait, and function

• Review follow-up imaging

• Monitor rehabilitation progress

• Coordinate physical or occupational therapy

• Identify signs of infection, hardware complications, neurovascular concerns, or other postoperative problems

• Determine whether an in-person orthopedic visit is necessary

• Coordinate directly with the operating surgeon when concerns arise

The goal is not to replace the operating surgeon, but to extend the orthopedic care team into the patient's home community.

Ideal Candidate

This position is particularly well suited for an experienced orthopedic surgeon who still loves patient care, diagnosis, and surgical decision-making but wants to operate less.

The ideal physician may be:

• Transitioning toward retirement or a reduced clinical schedule

• Stepping away from full-time operating responsibilities

• Interested in maintaining meaningful patient relationships without maintaining a full surgical practice

• An experienced surgeon who enjoys diagnostic decision-making and determining who does—and does not—need surgery

• Interested in guiding rural clinicians through orthopedic evaluation and management

• Looking for a flexible role that complements an existing surgical, academic, or leadership position

• Interested in improving access to orthopedic expertise in rural communities

Years of orthopedic experience and clinical judgment are highly valued in this role.

There is no requirement to perform surgery as part of the Rural Health Hub position.

Qualifications

• MD or DO degree

• Board certified or board eligible in Orthopedic Surgery

• Active Texas medical license or eligibility to obtain one

• Significant orthopedic surgery clinical experience

• Strong diagnostic and surgical decision-making skills

• Ability to determine appropriate operative versus non-operative management

• Comfort reviewing X-rays, MRI, CT, and complex medical records remotely

• Ability to practice effectively through telehealth

• Strong communication skills with patients, families, and referring clinicians

• Strong collaboration skills with regional orthopedic surgeons and hospital teams

• Commitment to rural and underserved populations

Experience in rural healthcare, telemedicine, orthopedic consultation, sports medicine, joint replacement, fracture care, postoperative care, or medical education is welcomed but not required.

Schedule and Work Arrangement

• Part-time, flexible telehealth schedule

• Recurring weekly clinic blocks available

• Work remotely with no relocation required

• No operating responsibilities through RHH

• Local clinical personnel present with patients

• Scheduling, technology, and care-coordination support provided

• Opportunity to expand hours as the network grows

Why Join Rural Health Hub?

• Continue practicing orthopedic surgery through clinical judgment rather than the operating room

• Use decades of orthopedic experience where it can have a significant impact

• Help rural clinicians determine which patients truly need orthopedic surgery

• Reduce unnecessary referrals and long-distance travel

• Help patients arrive at regional orthopedic centers appropriately evaluated and surgery-ready

• Improve communication between rural communities and regional orthopedic hospitals

• Provide continuity after patients return home following orthopedic surgery

• Support rehabilitation and recovery closer to home

• Maintain meaningful patient relationships without maintaining a traditional surgical practice

• Complement retirement, semi-retirement, academic work, or a reduced operating schedule

• Help build a more efficient regional system of orthopedic care across rural Texas

About Rural Health Hub

Rural Health Hub connects rural healthcare organizations with specialty clinicians, clinical technology, and operational support through a hybrid-telehealth model designed to bring high-quality specialty care closer to home.

Rural Health Hub — Expanding Access. Elevating Care.
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