Here are eight key stories on outpatient spine trends and news.
Is Geisinger's refund program working? One year later, here are the results
More than a year ago, Geisinger Health System in Danville, Pa., launched a unique program in healthcare: refunds for patients dissatisfied with their care. What began as a pilot program in spine and bariatric surgeries has since spread to all levels of inpatient and outpatient care throughout the expansive Geisinger footprint.
Where minimally invasive spine surgery is headed
Reginald J. Davis, M.D., FAANS, FACS, director of clinical research at Tampa, Fla.-based Laser Spine Institute, discusses his study about minimally invasive spine surgery and where the minimally invasive spine field is headed.
Outpatient anterior cervical discectomy and fusion reduces complication rate
A study in Clinical Spine Surgery compared 30-day complications of inpatient and outpatient single-level anterior cervical discectomy and fusion. The overall complication rate for the inpatient group was 2.5 percent, compared to only 1.2 percent for the outpatient group. The researchers concluded: "Outpatient surgery for single-level ACDF is safe and a favorable option for suitable patients."
SC health department denies Medical University of South Carolina's CON application for ASC
The South Carolina health department denied Charleston-based Medical University of South Carolina's certificate-of-need application to build a freestanding ASC. Mount Pleasant-based Southeastern Spine Institute Partner Steven Poletti, MD, spoke out in opposition of the center and sent a letter to the health department referring to MUSC's proposal as "premature" and "vague."
Spine care in 2017: 4 spine surgeons make predictions
Kevin Ju, MD, of Plano-based Texas Back Institute; Brian R. Gantwerker, MD, founder of Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles; Richard Kube, MD, founder and CEO of Peoria, Ill.-based Prairie Spine & Pain Institute; and Vladimir Sinkov, MD, of Nashua-based New Hampshire Orthopaedic Center predict what will happen in the spine industry in 2017.
AxioMed president comments on outpatient cervical disc replacement study
A study published in Spine analyzed the safety and efficacy of performing total disc replacement procedures in ambulatory surgery centers. The study verified the safe completion of TDR in ASCs with good clinical and patient-reported outcomes, when compared to anterior cervical discectomy and fusion procedures and previous two-year TDR studies. Malden, Mass.-based AxioMed's President Jake Lubinski reacted to the study by observing that cervical TDR is "becoming a standard outpatient procedure."
MIS driving ambulatory surgery center market
Minimally invasive surgeries will spur growth of the ambulatory surgical centers market, according to a Market Reports World analysis. The increasing mergers and acquisitions activity surrounding small practices will also spur market growth, but unfavorable reimbursement will hinder market growth.
SurgCenter of St. Lucie opens its doors
SurgCenter of St. Lucie (Fla.) started seeing patients on Jan. 27, 2017. The ASC partnered with Pismo Beach, Calif.-based SurgCenter Development to open its doors. Six surgeons specializing in fields including spine and orthopedics offer services at the ASC.