November 2022 Issue of Becker's Spine Review
ON THE COVER
Why private equity is bettering orthopedics, 3 physician leaders say
Private equity investment is an evolving force in orthopedics and can give practices an advantage in the market, according to physicians part of the July merger of two management services organizations.
'The numbers don't lie': Endoscopy to become more prominent among next generation of spine surgeons
Many physicians see endoscopic spine surgery as a key growth opportunity in the next five years, but argue the U.S. needs more endoscopic training programs and the reimbursement structure must be improved.
AAOS wants CMS to reform physician pay, emphasize value-based care
The American Association of Orthopaedic Surgeons has issued formal comments to CMS on its proposed payment policy changes for 2023.
Why orthopedics is the golden ticket for ASCs
Orthopedics may be ASCs' best option for running a profitable and successful center.
Cost of 9 orthopedic procedures at ASCs vs. HOPDs
Costs of procedures vary between ASCs and HOPDs, with orthopedic procedures for those with original Medicare and no supplement being cheaper at ASCs, according to data from Medicare.gov.
The leaders 4 orthopedic surgeons look up to
Role models and leaders have had a strong influence on orthopedic surgeons practicing today.
11 musculoskeletal MSOs totaling more than 1,000 physicians
Musculoskeletal management services organizations are becoming more prominent among physician-owned practices that are looking for partners to take on some of their business and administrative responsibilities so they can focus more on patient care.
13 most popular medical, non-medical side gigs for physicians
Thirty-seven percent of physicians reported having a side gig in 2022 according to the Physician Extra Income report from Medscape.
How 5 orthopedic practices find and retain new talent
Five surgeons discuss how they have found and retained top talent for their practices at a time when every medical industry is facing labor shortages.
SPINE
New Jersey hospital must pay neurosurgeons $24.3M, appeals court rules
An appellate court on Aug. 9 upheld a $24.3 million award to a group of neurosurgeons who found the Valley Hospital in Ridgeview, N.J., breached the implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing with them when it signed an exclusive agreement with another surgical group, according to Law.com.
Cost of 9 orthopedic procedures at ASCs vs. HOPDs
Costs of procedures vary between ASCs and HOPDs, with orthopedic procedures for those with original Medicare and no supplement being cheaper at ASCs, according to data from Medicare.gov.
The spine cases 9 surgeons are most proud of: Drs. Alok Sharan, Peter Derman & more
From complex cases on patients with comorbidities to how novel spine surgery protocols or techniques helped achieve a positive outcome, nine spine surgeons from health systems and private practices around the country detail the surgeries of which they are most proud.
Neurosurgeon accepted $3.3M in illegal payments to perform spine surgeries at hospital
Neurosurgeon Lokesh Tantuwaya, MD, 55, on Sept. 1 pleaded guilty to accepting about $3.3 million in bribes for performing spine surgeries at the now-defunct Pacific Hospital in Long Beach, Calif.
4 HSS surgeons among top 10 for hip, knee replacement in New York
Four orthopedic surgeons from Hospital for Special Surgery — Alexander McLawhorn, MD; Geoffrey Westrich, MD; Amar Ranawat, MD; and Peter Sculco, MD — are ranked among the top 10 physicians for hip and knee replacement in New York, based on patient volume and experience, according to rankings authority Dexur.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
MSOs will be 'the next big trend' in orthopedics, surgeons say
Aligning with musculoskeletal management services organizations is becoming a more attractive strategic option for independent orthopedic practices as economic, payer and administrative hurdles continue to challenge physician-owned groups to maintain autonomy.
Why private equity is bettering orthopedics, 3 physician leaders say
Private equity investment is an evolving force in orthopedics and can give practices an advantage in the market, according to physicians part of the July merger of two management services organizations.
'Avoid contracts that do not meet your costs': How spine surgeons should approach payer negotiations
Negotiating with payers is one of the most important, if most challenging, aspects of a physician's practice. For surgeons seeking to boost reimbursement rates or ensure bills and claims are paid out as expected, there are a few factors to keep top of mind.
The leaders 4 orthopedic surgeons look up to
Role models and leaders have had a strong influence on orthopedic surgeons practicing today.
'The numbers don't lie': Endoscopy to become more prominent among next generation of spine surgeons
Many physicians see endoscopic spine surgery as a key growth opportunity in the next five years, but argue the U.S. needs more endoscopic training programs and the reimbursement structure must be improved.
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
ASCs with 25%+ orthopedic case volume are best positioned to thrive, CEOs say
Orthopedic surgeries have increasingly shifted to the ASC setting in the last 10 years as minimally invasive technology advanced. More recently, CMS, commercial payers and patients have pushed these procedures to the ambulatory environment, where they can be done safely and at a lower cost than the inpatient setting.
OrthoSC opens location in former restaurant space, adds 2 physicians
Myrtle Beach, S.C.-based OrthoSC opened a location in the space of a former restaurant, The Post and Courier reported Sept. 6.
11 musculoskeletal MSOs totaling more than 1,000 physicians
Musculoskeletal management services organizations are becoming more prominent among physician-owned practices that are looking for partners to take on some of their business and administrative responsibilities so they can focus more on patient care.
Illinois Bone and Joint Institute adds 5 new physicians
Des Plaines-based Illinois Bone and Joint Institute added five spine and orthopedic physicians, the practice said Sept. 13.
22 hospitals ranked top 25 orthopedic hospitals 3+ years in a row
Every year, U.S. News & World Report releases a ranking of the top hospitals for orthopedics worldwide. In 2021, 2022 and 2023, a total of 22 hospitals were ranked in the top 25 for all three years.
DEVICES & IMPLANTS
Augmedics founder exits company after 'significant changes', 'disagreements' with new leadership
Nissan Elimelech, former CEO of Augmedics, has left the augmented reality spine surgical company he founded in 2014.
Elevation Spine raises $11M to expand use of spinal fusion device
Elevation Spine, a developer of integrated-fixation spinal technologies, on Sept. 22 completed its Series B preferred stock financing, totaling $11 million.
Johnson & Johnson to develop spine robot to rival medtech competitors
Johnson & Johnson is planning to develop its own spine robot to rival the platforms launched by Medtronic, Globus Medical and emerging device companies, company executives said Sept. 7 during the 2022 Wells Fargo Healthcare Conference, according to Seeking Alpha.
Former NuVasive exec to lead orthopedic devicemaker
Massimo Calafiore, who was NuVasive's chief commercial officer and executive vice president, was named CEO of LimaCorporate.
Spine partnership to commercialize cervical disc replacement implant
Synergy Spine Solutions and Ortho Consulting group are expanding their partnership to commercialize products in the European, Middle Eastern and African regions.
ASC
Physicians brace for 8.42% cut to CMS rates; many consider dropping Medicare patients
Physician practices are preparing for an 8.42 percent drop in Medicare payment rates next year because of the proposed 4.42 percent reduction in the CMS conversion factor and the 4 percent statutory Pay-As-You-Go sequester, which was implemented to offset congressional spending outside of healthcare.
Stark Law changes: Physician compensation arrangements to keep an eye on
Hospitals and health systems need to update their physician compensation plans after CMS' recent changes to the Stark Law, according to an article in JDSupra from the law firm Foley and Lardner.
The 'looming' disruptor of the ASC industry
ASCs nationwide are struggling to recruit and retain amidst the 'Great Resignation' and rising operating costs.
Why orthopedics is the golden ticket for ASCs
Orthopedics may be ASCs' best option for running a profitable and successful center.
What procedures are migrating to ASCs?
COVID-19 has accelerated the migration of surgeries to the outpatient setting, and many administrators expect the trend to continue.
HEALTHCARE NEWS
What does 'quiet quitting' look like at hospitals?
The trend of "quiet quitting" has recently gained traction on social media, referring to a phenomenon in which workers to reduce their enthusiasm at work and stick to the minimum expectations of their role. Some professionals, including Generation Z workers, have embraced the concept as an increased form of work-life balance, and others see it as a lesser-version of actually quitting. Regardless of how an individual interprets the idea, the concept is not new among the U.S. workforce or in healthcare, according to Jeremy Sadlier, executive director of the American Society for Healthcare Human Resources Administration.
Health systems shrink executive teams as costs rise
Hospitals and health systems are facing financial challenges with many reporting rising expenses and significant investment losses this year.
'A total disruptor to how we do business': Cleveland Clinic's new patient experience metric
Since their initial rollout in 2019, plan of care visits — which bring nurses and providers to the patient's bedside together — have become characteristic of the way care is delivered and managed across Cleveland Clinic. They've become so beneficial that the system has done away with chasing other experience scores, such as patients' likelihood to recommend.
Ohio hospital to lay off 978 employees
St. Vincent Charity Medical Center in Cleveland will lay off 978 workers when it ends many services in November, according to a notice filed with state regulators.
2 nurses assaulted every hour, Press Ganey analysis shows
More than 5,200 nursing personnel were assaulted in the second quarter of 2022, with patients being the largest source of violence, according to newly released data from Press Ganey.