Dong H. Kim, MD, shared his take on how neurosurgeons should approach the changing healthcare industry, in Neurosurgery's April supplement.
Dr. Kim was a guest editor for the issue, and serves as director of Houston-based Memorial Hermann Mischer Neuroscience Institute at the Texas Medical Center as well Houston-based McGovern Medical School's chair of the Vivian L. Smith Department of Neurosurgery.
Here are seven insights:
1. The supplement serves as a guide for neurosurgeons to find success in the changing industry landscape, especially those just starting out or those considering a change from private practice.
2. Dr. Kim offers tips in meeting federally mandated standards, helping neurosurgeons achieve positive outcomes and boost patient satisfaction.
3. He leverages his own experiences at Memorial Hermann/University of Texas, where he and his team implemented a quality improvement initiative. The program, launched in 2007, focused on physician engagement for new protocol development.
4. Additionally, the initiative saw implementation of a new EMR that spanned the inpatient and outpatient settings, offering specific neuroscience features.
5. Dr. Kim's team also zoned in on cost reduction by decreasing length-of-stay and choosing more cost-effective implants.
6. Since implementing the initiative, the center's patient satisfaction scores consistently rank above the 75th percentile. Patient safety outcomes also improved, with neurosurgical mortality rates in the top 10 among nationwide peer institutions.
7. Dr. Kim notes the program now encompasses 22 neurosurgeons, performing about 7,000 procedures every year, across 25 locations.
"We believe that persistence and constant effort over a long period of time was required to achieve permanent changes and develop the desired culture," Dr. Kim said.