The Human Side of Advocacy: Why Your Story Matters to Lawmakers

Effective advocacy requires more than policy analysis and data. While statistics and regulatory language are essential tools, they do not always convey the full impact of legislation on patient care and practice operations. Personal and professional experiences from those working directly in orthopaedic healthcare provide critical context that helps lawmakers better understand the real-world implications of policy decisions. 

For this reason, the perspectives of AAOE members play an important role in advocacy efforts.

Translating Policy Into Practice 

Lawmakers routinely evaluate legislation through reports, fiscal estimates, and policy summaries. However, these materials do not always reflect how policies affect access to care, workforce stability, or the delivery of musculoskeletal services. Insights from orthopaedic executives and practice leaders help translate policy into practice by illustrating how legislation functions at the operational level. 

Sharing examples from daily operations—such as challenges related to workforce shortages, administrative burden, or delays in patient care—helps policymakers better understand the practical outcomes of their decisions. 

The Importance of Operational Expertise 

Members of the American Alliance of Orthopaedic Executives (AAOE) bring a unique and credible perspective to advocacy discussions. Orthopaedic executives and administrators work at the intersection of clinical care, operations, and financial stewardship. This vantage point allows them to communicate how policy decisions affect patients, providers, and healthcare organizations as a whole.  Lawmakers rely on this type of practical insight to identify unintended consequences and to consider solutions that support sustainable, high-quality care delivery. 

Building Understanding Through Experience 

Experience-based examples help clarify complex issues and foster meaningful dialogue. When policymakers hear directly from those responsible for implementing regulations and managing care delivery, they gain a clearer understanding of how policies impact real people and communities. 

These conversations also help establish trust and open channels for continued engagement, ensuring that orthopaedic practice leaders are viewed as reliable resources on musculoskeletal healthcare issues. 

Advocacy as an Educational Effort 

Advocacy is fundamentally an educational process. It does not require extensive policy expertise or formal testimony. Clearly explaining how an issue affects patients, staff, or operations can meaningfully inform legislative decision-making. 

Engagement may take many forms, including meetings with legislators, written correspondence, or participation in organized advocacy initiatives. Each interaction provides an opportunity to contribute informed perspectives to the policy process.   

Strengthening Orthopaedic Care Through Engagement 

Advocacy is essential to advancing policies that support accessible, high-quality, and sustainable musculoskeletal care. By sharing their experiences, AAOE members help ensure that policy discussions are informed by those closest to patient care and practice operations. 

The AAOE Advocacy Council encourages members to participate in advocacy efforts and share their perspectives. Collectively, these voices help shape policies that strengthen orthopaedic practices and improve care for the patients and communities they serve.