Three spine surgeons share their resolutions for the new year.
Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. We invite all spine surgeon and specialist responses.
Next week's question: What is the best professional decision you made in 2016?
Please send responses to Anuja Vaidya at avaidya@beckershealthcare.com by Wednesday, Jan. 11, at 5 p.m. CST.
Question: What is your new year's resolution with regard to your career?
William Taylor, MD. Director of Spine Surgery, Vice Chairman of the Division of Neurological Surgery at University of California, San Diego: My goal is to tackle endoscopic spine surgery and to identify procedures that work for me, as well as to incorporate them in my practice.
Brian R. Gantwerker, MD. Founder of The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: I am resolving to seriously looking at my payer contracts. With regards to Medicare, a 2 percent ding this year for supposedly not meeting PQRS and possibly an 8 percent cut from MACRA, the extra income from the non-participating status might help. My second resolution is to do more outpatient spine, as I see my son growing up incredibly fast and being around for him as he starts kindergarten is more important than waiting three hours between cases at the hospitals.
Richard Kube, MD. Founder and CEO, Prairie Spine & Pain Institute (Peoria, Ill.): I plan to continue managing my practice and to look for new and innovative ways to care for my patients. Likewise, I will also continue building my non-medical businesses so that I am diversified beyond the field of medicine.