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Meet David Bailie MD of Arizona Institute for Sports Knees and Shoulders aka AzISKS

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Today we’d like to introduce you to David Bailie MD.

David, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I am an allopathic (MD) Orthopedic Surgeon with specialty focus of Orthopedic Sports Medicine, shoulder and knee problems/surgery. I graduated with high honors from the University of Michigan and Indiana University School of Medicine. I did my orthopedic/sports training at 2 of the most prestigious institutions in the world: Northwestern University and Baylor College of Medicine working with all Chicago and Houston Professional teams (NBA, NHL, NFL, MLB) and several division I NCAA athletic programs. I was recruited to Phoenix of become part of the medical team for the Phoenix Suns, Arizona Rattlers, Phoenix Mercury and Phoenix Coyotes and served on their medical staff.

I also was a Team Orthopedic Surgeon at Arizona State University Athletics. I had been part of a large Orthopedic Group practice until 2015 when I made the decision to form my own entity. I was disenchanted with the path of medicine and the need to utilize physician assistants to increase volume and the impersonal nature of healthcare, with a level of customer service that did not fit with my vision. I formed AZISKS specifically to provide one-on-one care of the highest quality without the use of what are termed “Mid-level” providers (PAs and NPs) who do not have the expertise and training to provide the best care possible – “good” care is simply not acceptable to me.

I believe in superb care and customer service for my patients. This includes exceptional customer service from my staff and all people who participate in the care of my patients. I have lectured and taught surgical techniques to thousands of surgeons around the world spoken at meetings in the US and Europe and publish scientific articles and book chapters regarding the latest surgical techniques, some of which I have developed. It has always been an honor to work with my patients to help them recover from injury or degenerative knee/shoulder problems and feel, that more than ever given changes in the healthcare landscape, caring and skilled physicians should remain int he lead role of patient care. I have practiced medicine in the Phoenix area since 1996 and continue to treat athletes from all levels, as well as the everyday person who simply has a knee or shoulder complaint. All patients retreated as if they are the highest paid athlete, as all deserve the best care.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The only real struggles were the grueling path of academics required to reach my goals. To attend a top medical school, one has to be in the top 2-3% of their class from a prestigious university (The University of Michigan is currently the #1 public University in the US and the only public University in the top 10). To be selected to train at the best Orthopedic Surgery programs, medical students must be in the top 1% of their medical school class and the same holds for Orthopedic Residents trying to be selected for one of the few sports Medicine fellowship positions.

This process is a struggle- as it is for any highly academic field. Countless nights with no sleep, often working 100+ hours per week and still having to be “on your game” as patient lives are at stake. Once I completed my training, simply finding the best job was challenging. There are many positions available given the physician shortage, but only a handful that allows for care of high-level athletes. Being a surgeon requires a constant critique of oneself and an attitude of never being satisfied and striving for perfection at all times. this can be mentally challenging for some and those that cannot do this quickly become average. I try and surround myself with the best of the best and this helps me continue to provide superb, state-of-the-art care for all of my patients.

As healthcare changes, the struggles increase as the trend is for insurance carriers and even the government to determine what care can be provided (or at least paid for by them). The cost of healthcare has risen exponentially in the last decade yet the reimbursement for physicians has actually only risen 0.5-1% annually (not even keeping pace with inflation) and the number of healthcare providers is relatively flat over this same period of time. The number of administrators (hospital and insurance) actually has risen in parallel with the cost of healthcare, clearly demonstrating that the increase in the cost of “healthcare” is not at all because of the “care”. It is the cost of administering the care and the cost of insurance. This is the primary struggle we all face today, as providers and patients and unless this changes rapidly, our entire system will drastically change to a system of rationed care determined by actuaries and not patients and providers.

Arizona Institute for Sports Knees and Shoulders LLC, aka AzISKS – what should we know? What do you guys do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
My website is www.AZISKS.com and explains all that I do and my education, background, and expertise. What sets me apart is that I am one of the rare physicians who has chosen to create a truly personalized method of subspecialty care in Orthopedic Surgery while the majority join large groups to “increase market share” and utilize mid-level providers. I still believe in the physician handling all aspects of care. Patients come to see me personally for my expertise in shoulder and knee surgery and I will always be the person they meet with. I have co-developed 2 shoulder replacements which are in use worldwide. I have patents on several products and continue to be at the forefront of my field.

I am very proud to have had success creating AzISKS in such a hostile environment for healthcare. My patients are the people that need to be satisfied, and from the feedback, I have received, we have been very successful in executing my vision. Every patient comment is taken seriously- good or bad- and AzISKS responds to each one. If that means changing policy and procedures to make things more efficient and convenient, then that is what we do. Healthcare is about the patient and I firmly believe that it can never be otherwise.

What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
When patients travel from around the US and even France, UK and Italy solely for the purpose of seeking out my advice and care. When your reputation makes it around the world and patients rather travel to see me in Arizona instead of having treatment locally, that is the ultimate compliment. In addition, every patient who simply has their life improved because of what I can do to help them, makes all of the struggles worth it.

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