Telemedicine

Best Telemedicine Platform for Orthopedics in 2024: Virtual Ortho Visits

Orthopedic telemedicine platforms must support visual range-of-motion assessment, image review during visits, and post-surgical follow-up documentation — not just basic video calls. We tested the top ortho telehealth platforms on functional assessment support, X-ray sharing, and payer coverage for virtual surgical follow-ups.

By MedTech Review EditorialUpdated: October 10, 20247 min read✓ Medically Verified

Orthopedic telehealth is most valuable for post-surgical follow-ups, physical therapy compliance monitoring, and second-opinion consultations — visits where a physical examination adds limited diagnostic value compared to reviewing the clinical history and imaging. We evaluated five platforms on their ability to support range-of-motion self-assessment by patients, radiographic image sharing during the visit, pre-operative education delivery, and Medicare reimbursement for orthopedic global period follow-up visits conducted via telehealth.

Product Comparison

Product	Rating	Price	Best For
Doxy.me	★ 4.5	Free–$35/mo per provider	Post-surgical follow-ups	View →
Zoom for Healthcare	★ 4.4	$200/yr HIPAA plan	Group practice orthopedic teams	View →
eVisit	★ 4.3	From $299/mo practice	Integrated ortho workflow	View →
Mend	★ 4.4	From $149/mo practice	Pre-op education + post-op follow-up	View →
Teladoc Health	★ 4.3	Custom enterprise pricing	Health system ortho telehealth	View →

Pros & Cons

✓ Pros

Post-surgical follow-ups at 2-week and 6-week intervals are ideal for telehealth — wound assessment via video reduces unnecessary office visits
Screen sharing allows orthopedic surgeons to review pre-operative MRI and X-ray images with patients during telehealth visits
Telehealth pre-operative education visits improve patient preparedness and reduce day-of-surgery call volume by 30–40%
Global period follow-up visits conducted via telehealth are reimbursed by Medicare — no revenue loss for virtual post-op care

✗ Cons

New patient orthopedic consultations with acute injury or suspected fracture cannot be adequately assessed via video
Range-of-motion assessment via telehealth depends on patient's ability to self-demonstrate movements — less reliable than goniometer measurement
Telehealth is poorly suited for injections, aspiration, casting, bracing, or any procedure requiring hands-on delivery

Frequently Asked Questions

Which orthopedic visits are best suited for telehealth?▾

The highest-value orthopedic telehealth visits are: post-surgical follow-ups (2-week wound checks, 6-week range-of-motion review), pre-operative education and consent visits, chronic joint pain management check-ins, physical therapy compliance monitoring, radiographic image review consultations, and second-opinion consultations for patients with imaging already available. New trauma and acute injury evaluations require in-person assessment.

Can Medicare patients receive orthopedic global period follow-up care via telehealth?▾

Yes — Medicare has extended telehealth coverage for post-surgical follow-up visits within the global surgical period. Orthopedic surgeons can conduct 10-day and 90-day global period visits via video and bill under CPT 99213–99215 with the telehealth modifier (95 or GT). This eliminates the historical concern that telehealth follow-ups would not count toward global period management requirements.

How do orthopedic surgeons share X-ray images with patients during telehealth visits?▾

Screen sharing is the standard approach — the surgeon accesses PACS or uploads DICOM images to a web viewer and shares their screen during the video visit. Ambra Health's patient-facing image sharing tool allows surgeons to send a web link to the patient pre-visit so the patient can review images on their own device during the consultation. This approach works with any HIPAA-compliant telehealth platform.

What outcome measurement tools can orthopedic practices use in telehealth workflows?▾

Patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs) like KOOS, HOOS, DASH, ASES, and VAS pain scales can be sent to patients electronically before telehealth visits via Mend or the practice's patient portal. Patients complete the forms at home, and results appear in the clinician's dashboard before the video visit starts — enabling outcome-based consultations without 15 minutes of in-visit form completion.

Our Top Pick

Mend — Best Telemedicine Platform for Orthopedic Practices

Mend's pre-visit intake automation collects outcome measures, surgical questionnaires, and insurance verification before the ortho telehealth visit — saving 10+ minutes per encounter.

Request a Free Mend Demo →

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