March 2023 Issue of Becker's Spine Review
ON THE COVER
No. of active orthopedic surgeons dips 3.7% from 2016-2021: report
Orthopedic surgery as a specialty saw a dip between 2016 and 2021, while sports medicine saw a significant jump, according to the Association of American Medical College's "2022 Physician Specialty Data Report."
Robotics will be ‘standard of care’ in joint replacements by 2030: 3 surgeon insights
Robotics in total joint surgery has grown in 2022. By the next decade, surgeons predict continued growth, along with the further integration of artificial intelligence and augmented reality.
Hoag opens 2nd ASC in Los Angeles
Orange County, Calif.-based Hoag Orthopedic Institute has opened its second ASC in the Los Angeles area in Beverly Hills, Calif., according to a Dec. 14 press release sent to Becker's.
Spine, orthopedic hospital reaches 50K surgery milestone
Addison, Texas-based Methodist Hospital for Surgery, a hospital specializing in spine, joint and orthopedic surgery, has performed its 50,000th surgery since its opening in December 2010.
10 states with more ASCs than hospitals
As the popularity of outpatient surgery continues to grow, 10 states, including California, Florida and Nebraska, now have more ASCs than hospitals, according to data from the Ambulatory Surgery Center Association and Definitive Healthcare.
Why Florida’s competitive environment is good for orthopedics: Q&A with Dr. Alex Vaccaro
Florida offers several benefits for orthopedic patients and practices that has made it an increasingly competitive state for surgeons, according to Alex Vaccaro, MD, PhD, president of Philadelphia-based Rothman Orthopaedic Institute.
AI, regenerative medicine and more: What 11 spine surgeons would do with a $5M grant
Research grants can be key to helping surgeons and scientists uncover new developments and innovations in patient care. Here's how 11 spine surgeons told Becker's they would use a $5 million grant.
Dr. Bryan Kelly to lead Hospital for Special Surgery as CEO
Bryan Kelly, MD, will succeed Louis Shapiro as president and CEO of New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery.
SPINE
Dr. J. Richard Steadman dies at 85
J. Richard Steadman, MD, who founded the Steadman Clinic in Vail, Colo., died at age 85, the practice said Jan. 22.
Dr. Bryan Kelly to lead Hospital for Special Surgery as CEO
Bryan Kelly, MD, will succeed Louis Shapiro as president and CEO of New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery.
Orthopedic surgeon among 2 convicted in $31M Medicare fraud scheme
An orthopedic surgeon was convicted for his role in a $31 million Medicare fraud scheme, the U.S. Justice Department said Jan. 30.
Dr. Chad Prusmack performs back surgery on National Hockey League Player
Chad Prusmack, MD, performed back surgery on Mark Stone, a winger for the Vegas Golden Knights in the National Hockey League, on Jan. 31 in Denver, according to a report from vegashockeynow.com.
No. of active orthopedic surgeons dips 3.7% from 2016-2021: report
Orthopedic surgery as a specialty saw a dip between 2016 and 2021, while sports medicine saw a significant jump, according to the Association of American Medical College's "2022 Physician Specialty Data Report."
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Why Florida’s competitive environment is good for orthopedics: Q&A with Dr. Alex Vaccaro
Florida offers several benefits for orthopedic patients and practices that has made it an increasingly competitive state for surgeons, according to Alex Vaccaro, MD, PhD, president of Philadelphia-based Rothman Orthopaedic Institute.
What the future holds for independent orthopedic surgeons
Wael Barsoum, MD, president and chief transformation officer at Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company, recently connected with Becker's to discuss what the next five years will look like for independent orthopedic practices.
AI, regenerative medicine and more: What 11 spine surgeons would do with a $5M grant
Research grants can be key to helping surgeons and scientists uncover new developments and innovations in patient care. Here's how 11 spine surgeons told Becker's they would use a $5 million grant.
Robotics will be ‘standard of care’ in joint replacements by 2030: 3 surgeon insights
Robotics in total joint surgery has grown in 2022. By the next decade, surgeons predict continued growth, along with the further integration of artificial intelligence and augmented reality.
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
Lawsuit targets Michigan orthopedic practice, alleges monopoly
Trinity Health and four surgeons have sued Grand Rapids-based Orthopaedic Associates of Michigan, accusing the practice of holding a monopoly in Kent County.
How one of the nation’s largest orthopedic MSOs plans to grow in 2023
U.S. Orthopaedic Partners, one of the largest orthopedic management services organizations in the U.S., made major strides in 2022.
22 of the largest orthopedic groups in the US by number of physicians
Here are more than 20 of the largest orthopedic practices in the U.S., listed by the number of physicians on the staff.
Hoag opens 2nd ASC in Los Angeles
Orange County, Calif.-based Hoag Orthopedic Institute has opened its second ASC in the Los Angeles area in Beverly Hills, Calif., according to a Dec. 14 press release sent to Becker's.
3 orthopedic practices joining health systems
Becker's has reported on three orthopedic groups joining health systems since Dec. 21:
DEVICES & IMPLANTS
DePuy Synthes pays $9.75M to settle kickback allegations involving spine implants
DePuy Synthes, Johnson & Johnson's orthopedic company, is paying $9.75 million to resolve allegations that it gave an orthopedic surgeon free spinal implants that were used in overseas cases, the Justice Department said Jan. 20.
ZimVie’s cervical disc surpasses 200,000 implantations
ZimVie, Zimmer Biomet's spine and dental company, reached a milestone with its Mobi-C cervical disc implant, the devicemaker said Jan. 30.
Zimmer Biomet COO expects to beat Stryker to market for shoulder robot
Zimmer Biomet's robotic shoulder application could come sooner than Stryker's, COO Ivan Tornos said in a Feb. 3 earnings call.
Stryker expects Mako spine application to launch in 2024
Stryker's spine and shoulder applications for the Mako robot are expected to launch in 2024, according to a Jan. 31 earnings call.
Johnson & Johnson’s orthopedics sales dip in Q4: 5 notes
Johnson & Johnson on Jan. 24 posted $23.7 billion in 2022 revenue, a 4.4 percent decrease. Its orthopedic sales remained flat year-over-year, and its fourth-quarter orthopedic sales fell slightly.
ASC
FTC moves to ban non-competes: What it could mean for physicians
In January, the Federal Trade Commission proposed a rule that would keep employees free from non-compete contracts. The rule would apply to full-time employees and independent contractors, both paid and unpaid.
USPI CEO, president to retire
Brett Brodnax, president and CEO of United Surgical Partners International, will retire at the end of 2023.
2 Tennessee ASCs removed from BCBS network
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Tennessee has ended its relationship with Memphis-based Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare, and two ASCs are affected, local ABC affiliate ABC24 reported Jan. 5
BCBS leans into site-neutral payments
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association released a policy statement backing site-neutral payments as a key focus for saving billions of dollars in the next decade.
Former NFL player sues medical malpractice insurers following surgery at ASC
Former NFL player Sharrif Floyd has sued a slew of medical malpractice insurers and brokers for an alleged $10 million insurance shortfall following a career-ending knee surgery, Business Insurance reported Jan. 20.
HEALTHCARE NEWS
5 trillion-dollar questions hanging over hospitals
Big questions tend to have no easy answers. Fortunately, few people would say they went into healthcare for its ease.
‘Operation Nightingale’: Feds charge 25 in sweeping nurse diploma scheme
Twenty-five people have been charged for their alleged participation in a coordinated scheme to sell aspiring nurses thousands of fake nursing degree documents, the Justice Department said Jan. 25.
Trinity Health plans to institute virtual nurses across its 88 hospitals in 26 states
Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health plans to roll out virtual nurses at its hospitals around the state of Michigan — and nationwide.
Number of active physicians by specialty
Internal medicine boasts the highest number of physicians of any specialty, according to the Association of American Medical College's "2022 Physician Specialty Data Report."
3 HCA hospital executives resign
Three executives at hospitals affiliated with Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare have resigned, Becker's has learned.