Stephen H. Hochschuler, M.D, is the co-founder of Texas Back Institute in Plano and is a past president of Spine Arthroplasty Society, now known as the International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery. He is the managing director of the International Spine & Orthopedic Institute in Overland Park, Kan. He has served in the United States Air Force and won an Air Force Commendation Award.

Mark Dekutoski, MD, has joined The CORE Institute in Phoenix.

The Leading Physicians of the World have honored James Lynch, MD, as a top neurological surgeon in Nevada.

A multispecialty orthopedic practice with multiple office sites and an ambulatory surgery center in Detroit is seeking a fellowship trained, board certified/board eligible orthopedic spine or neurospine surgeon.

Readmission rates for spine surgery are high in some hospitals, which will become a significant burden as insurance companies and Medicare stop paying for readmissions separately within the episode of care. Many departments are considering new initiatives to reduce readmission rates, and surgeons should play a role in these decisions.

Cigna HealthCare has partnered with Wyoming Neuroscience and Spine and Elkhorn Rehabilitation Hospital in Casper, Wyo., to create a program that increases quality and lowers cost for patients in the area: Pathway to Improved Health for Back Pain. The State of Wyoming is among the highest spenders when it comes to spine and back pain, and related claims which nearly doubled from 2007 to 2009. Here, David E. Mino, MD, MBA, Cigna HealthCare National Medical Director, Orthopedic Surgery and spinal disorders, discusses the program and where it's headed in the future.

Recruiting new spine surgeons can be time consuming and expensive, which places a heavy burden on any private practice.

John F. Hall, MD, is a spine surgeon at Flagstaff (Ariz.) Bone and Joint. He joined in 2007 and started the Spine Care Program. He is a member of the North American Spine Society and has served as a squadron flight surgeon in both the U.S. Air Force and Navy.

Here are 12 hospitals that announced or opened expansion projects for orthopedic and spine services.

The Business of Spine has launched a new customer loyalty program with special offers and members-only discounts.