Fixing What’s Broken in MSK Care
Tue Feb 03 2026
In this episode of Captivating Health Insights, host Maddison Bezdicek sits down with Dr. Mary O’Connor, Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Vori Health, to unpack the challenges and opportunities in musculoskeletal care. Drawing on decades of experience in academic medicine and healthcare innovation, Dr. O’Connor explains how traditional healthcare incentives often drive overutilization of imaging and surgery — especially in spine and orthopedic care — without always improving patient outcomes. The conversation explores why a digital-first, physician-led, multidisciplinary model can help patients get better without surgery, while still ensuring timely access to advanced care when it’s truly needed. From appropriate MRI use and integrated physician-PT visits to behavior change, sleep, and movement, the episode highlights how smarter MSK care can improve employee health, reduce unnecessary procedures, and lower employers' costs. A thoughtful discussion on delivering better care by putting patients — and value — first.
Chapters
(00:00:00) - Optimal spine surgery: Overutilization of surgery in India(00:00:50) - Health Insights: Musculoskeletal and Physical Therapy Solutions(00:05:10) - Alternatives to surgery in orthopedic and spine surgery(00:09:45) - How Massacute Medicine approaches musculoskeletal care(00:13:06) - Vori Physical Therapy: The Physician-Led Model(00:22:29) - MSK: The Future of Musculoskeletal Care(00:27:24) - Osteoartho Surgery: Virtual Physical Therapy(00:32:26) - Vori Health: A proactive approach to back pain(00:33:58) - How to Measure Your Musculoskeletal Care(00:36:09) - Vori Health: The Employer Experience(00:40:56) - Mary Flanery on Talking to Students
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In this episode of Captivating Health Insights, host Maddison Bezdicek sits down with Dr. Mary O’Connor, Founder and Chief Medical Officer at Vori Health, to unpack the challenges and opportunities in musculoskeletal care. Drawing on decades of experience in academic medicine and healthcare innovation, Dr. O’Connor explains how traditional healthcare incentives often drive overutilization of imaging and surgery — especially in spine and orthopedic care — without always improving patient outcomes. The conversation explores why a digital-first, physician-led, multidisciplinary model can help patients get better without surgery, while still ensuring timely access to advanced care when it’s truly needed. From appropriate MRI use and integrated physician-PT visits to behavior change, sleep, and movement, the episode highlights how smarter MSK care can improve employee health, reduce unnecessary procedures, and lower employers' costs. A thoughtful discussion on delivering better care by putting patients — and value — first. Chapters (00:00:00) - Optimal spine surgery: Overutilization of surgery in India(00:00:50) - Health Insights: Musculoskeletal and Physical Therapy Solutions(00:05:10) - Alternatives to surgery in orthopedic and spine surgery(00:09:45) - How Massacute Medicine approaches musculoskeletal care(00:13:06) - Vori Physical Therapy: The Physician-Led Model(00:22:29) - MSK: The Future of Musculoskeletal Care(00:27:24) - Osteoartho Surgery: Virtual Physical Therapy(00:32:26) - Vori Health: A proactive approach to back pain(00:33:58) - How to Measure Your Musculoskeletal Care(00:36:09) - Vori Health: The Employer Experience(00:40:56) - Mary Flanery on Talking to Students