At the 11th Annual Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference on June 14, Richard Wohns, MD, JD, MBA, of NeoSpine in the Puget Sound Region of Washington, shared the results of a study comparing the safety and cost of spine procedures in an ambulatory surgery center to the same procedures in a hospital inpatient environment. In the study of a 42-patient cohort, 40 percent of the procedures were performed as conventional open surgery in a hospital inpatient setting, 30 percent of the procedures were performed as minimally invasive surgery in a hospital inpatient setting and 30 percent of the procedures were performed as minimally invasive surgery in an outpatient setting.
1. Patient outcome results. There were no intraoperative complications in any of the three groups and no patient transfers occurred. Two postoperative superficial infections occurred in the inpatient group undergoing conventional surgery and no infections occurred in either of the groups undergoing minimally invasive surgery. Based on the outcomes, the study supports the clinical benefit of minimally invasive surgery over open surgery
2. Cervical discectomy fusion price comparison. The entire cost of a cervical discectomy fusion in a hospital is $119,529.23, according to Dr. Wohn's research. In the ambulatory surgery center setting, the same procedure was $37, 956.80. Patients undergoing the procedure in the hospital environment were responsible for near to $86,000 and the ASC patients were responsible for $12, 645. The hospital price for the implant required for the surgery was roughly $65,000, while the implant price in the ASC was less than $3,000.
3. Conclusions. "Spine surgery is safe and effective in the outpatient setting. Patient satisfaction is higher. Infection prevention is better. The outpatient arena is so much more satisfying to the patient," said Dr. Wohns. Insurance companies respond well to data. "This is incredible ammunition to gain contracts and build payer relationships," said Dr. Wohns. Explain to insurance companies that you can save them money and you will begin to build strong payer relationships.
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1. Patient outcome results. There were no intraoperative complications in any of the three groups and no patient transfers occurred. Two postoperative superficial infections occurred in the inpatient group undergoing conventional surgery and no infections occurred in either of the groups undergoing minimally invasive surgery. Based on the outcomes, the study supports the clinical benefit of minimally invasive surgery over open surgery
2. Cervical discectomy fusion price comparison. The entire cost of a cervical discectomy fusion in a hospital is $119,529.23, according to Dr. Wohn's research. In the ambulatory surgery center setting, the same procedure was $37, 956.80. Patients undergoing the procedure in the hospital environment were responsible for near to $86,000 and the ASC patients were responsible for $12, 645. The hospital price for the implant required for the surgery was roughly $65,000, while the implant price in the ASC was less than $3,000.
3. Conclusions. "Spine surgery is safe and effective in the outpatient setting. Patient satisfaction is higher. Infection prevention is better. The outpatient arena is so much more satisfying to the patient," said Dr. Wohns. Insurance companies respond well to data. "This is incredible ammunition to gain contracts and build payer relationships," said Dr. Wohns. Explain to insurance companies that you can save them money and you will begin to build strong payer relationships.
More Articles on Spine:
Drs. Richard Kube & David Rothbart: 3 Key Considerations for the Transition of Spine to ASCs
3 Points on Deuk Laser Disc Repair for Symptomatic Cervical Disc Disease
5 Commonly Neglected Risks of Offering Innovative Spine Surgery