Orthopaedic Surgeons Workforce & Economic Cost of Restrictions on Elective Surgeries and Longer Waiting Time for Orthopaedic Surgery: Students' Research Reports and Recommendations

In the autumn semester 2022, Western Sydney University’s Bachelor of Business majoring in Finance and/or Economics students were commissioned by The Australian Orthopaedic Association (AOA). They are predominantly third year students and are undertaking the study in ten groups of 2, 3 or 4 over a twelve-week period. The students work with existing data/information together with collecting primary data via surveys, interviews, and observations. In addition, the unit co- ordinator also provided them with: copies of the AOA Workforce Survey conducted in 2021; electronic copies of interviews conducted with 2 former orthopaedic patients (1 that had 4 hand surgeries, 1 that had spine and knee replacement surgery); a carer of someone on the waiting to have knee procedure; and a general practitioner who is providing primary care to patients on the waiting list; guests’ lecturers by the AOA representatives and a health economist; and secondary data and literature on these issues. The students presented the results of their studies in the week of 23rd of May 2022 to AOA and had opportunities to be questioned on their methodologies, finding and recommendations. On the 3rd of June 2022, the students submitted their final reports as part of the academic task. These reports have been compiled and summarised here and are grouped under two sections. The first section is on workforce issues for orthopaedic surgeons in Australia and the second section is on issues and impacts on the increase in waitlists for patients. The reports are detailed, to the extent possible, by introduction, methodology, finding and recommendations. The recommendations are provided as separate header for ease of access. The students undertaking this unit are business students majoring in Economics and/or Finance. The topic provided this semester was outside their usual offering or expectations. However, they have engaged with it enormously throughout the semester and were able to better understand the challenges of public health policies, funding models, and workforce factors in the health industry. Western Sydney University students’ future employment are most diverse include state and federal government, multinational and private firms both in Australia and more globally. Their tools and learnings from this topic and learnings are ones that they will carry forward.