April 2024 Issue of Becker's Spine Review
ON THE COVER
Spine surgeon expects 'record year' for patient volume, revenue
Los Angeles-based DOCS Surgery Center had a record year for case volume and revenue, Co-CEO Khawar Siddique, MD, told Becker's
Why noncompetes are 'worthless' to Dr. Nicholas Grosso
In his time at Bethesda, Md.-based Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics, Nicholas Grosso, MD, has found physician exits to be rare.
Surgeons warn of 'overutilization' of spinal fusion
Spinal fusions are a common option for addressing back pain and spine conditions. But some spine surgeons worry that the procedure could be overdone.
Spine surgeon vs. neurosurgeon salary – Does location matter in 2024?
Spine surgeons and neurosurgeons sometimes have overlap in the type of care they offer. However their training paths are unique, along with having varying compensation.
The tide is turning on healthcare megamergers
Proposed healthcare mergers and acquisitions are continuing to face backlash from hospital and physician groups along with state and federal lawmakers — signaling a turn of the tide against megadeals.
What an ASC did to avoid room shutdowns
Andrew Lovewell, CEO of Columbia (Mo.) Orthopaedic Group, realized his surgery center had a problem. The demand for services was high, but cases couldn't get scheduled because of gaps in anesthesia coverage.
Complex spine surgery can work in ASCs. Here are the steps to get there
More spine surgeries are migrating to ASCs, and the outpatient setting has been ideal for minimally invasive procedures. But work still needs to be done to optimize complex spine cases for ASCs.
CMS, Ozempic and more: 5 spine, orthopedic surgeon concerns in 2024
From noncompete clauses to GLP-1 weight loss drugs, several evolving policy and clinical issues are affecting spine and orthopedic surgeons headed into 2024.
Value-based care hit a 'stumbling block': 1 orthopedic surgeon explains why
Value-based care is a hot topic in orthopedic care, but its lack of consensus among payers, patients and physicians has been an obstacle, Michael Havig, MD, said.
SPINE
CMS, Ozempic and more: 5 spine, orthopedic surgeon concerns in 2024
From noncompete clauses to GLP-1 weight loss drugs, several evolving policy and clinical issues are affecting spine and orthopedic surgeons headed into 2024.
Spine surgeon expects 'record year' for patient volume, revenue
Los Angeles-based DOCS Surgery Center had a record year for case volume and revenue, Co-CEO Khawar Siddique, MD, told Becker's
Spine surgeon vs. neurosurgeon salary – Does location matter in 2024?
Spine surgeons and neurosurgeons sometimes have overlap in the type of care they offer. However their training paths are unique, along with having varying compensation.
Cervical disc replacement on the rise, ACDF leveling out: A 10-year review
Cervical disc replacement has increased significantly from 2011 and 2021 while anterior cervical discectomy and fusion plateaued, according to a study published Feb. 24 in The Spine Journal.
Yale appoints Dr. Ehud Mendel to 10-year neurosurgery professorship
Ehud Mendel, MD, was named the Nixdorff-German Professor of Neurosurgery at Yale University in New Haven, Conn.
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
Complex spine surgery can work in ASCs. Here are the steps to get there
More spine surgeries are migrating to ASCs, and the outpatient setting has been ideal for minimally invasive procedures. But work still needs to be done to optimize complex spine cases for ASCs.
'Hospitals are scared to death': Why ASCs have the advantage in recruiting spine surgeons
Allowing physicians to have ownership in the places they work can make ASCs more attractive in recruiting, spine surgeon Stephen Hochschuler, MD, said.
How emerging spine surgeons, value-based care can win
Hyun Bae, MD, has his eyes on the evolution of outpatient spine surgery and value-based care. And one key element to their trajectories will be physician control.
The new USOP CEO's pitch to payers
Stephen Holtzclaw, MD, has spent the beginning of his year getting to know the people behind U.S. Orthopaedic Partners. The emergency medicine physician was named CEO of the management services organization, and he wants to help the MSO thrive.
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
Orthopedic MSOs remain popular but other options show promise
Musculoskeletal management organizations have been a popular avenue for orthopedic practices to find support amid economic, business and payer headwinds. But in the last year, some physicians have also found success in other consolidation models.
Why noncompetes are 'worthless' to Dr. Nicholas Grosso
In his time at Bethesda, Md.-based Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics, Nicholas Grosso, MD, has found physician exits to be rare.
Spine surgeons' 'new avenues' to reach patients
Patient referrals and maintaining volumes is crucial for any strong spine practice. And as the healthcare landscape and technologies evolve, spine surgeons need to adapt.
Value-based care hit a 'stumbling block': 1 orthopedic surgeon explains why
Value-based care is a hot topic in orthopedic care, but its lack of consensus among payers, patients and physicians has been an obstacle, Michael Havig, MD, said.
2 factors advancing value-based care in spine — and 1 holding it back
Value-based care has been embraced by some spine groups as an alternative to fee-for-service payments, and its prevalence hinges on multiple elements.
DEVICES & IMPLANTS
'On the brink of transformative change': What's next for the spine device market
Innovation has grown in the spine device market, and many companies are looking toward more minimally invasive and motion preserving options. Five spine surgeons discuss their expectations for the spine medtech market in the near future.
Stryker, Zimmer Biomet, J&J execs among the most 'influential' in healthcare
CEOWorld Magazine released its latest list of "World's Most Influential CEOs and Business Executives," and three orthopedic devicemaker leaders are on it.
Augmedics CEO exits, interim leadership named
Kevin Hykes stepped down as president and CEO of Augmedics, the company said Jan. 31.
ZimVie to sell spine business for $375M
ZimVie is selling its spine business to HIG Capital for $375 million.
NuVasive lays off 157 after merger
NuVasive is laying off 157 employees at its San Diego headquarters, according to WARN notice data from the state of California.
ASC
Hospitals target ASCs with new proposals
Outpatient revenue for hospitals and health systems jumped 10.6% year over year in January, as hospitals continue to see more complex procedures become safe in the outpatient setting, according to Syntellis.
ASC leaders remain wary of reimbursement trends
Reimbursement challenges are among the biggest trends ASC leaders are watching.
What an ASC did to avoid room shutdowns
Andrew Lovewell, CEO of Columbia (Mo.) Orthopaedic Group, realized his surgery center had a problem. The demand for services was high, but cases couldn't get scheduled because of gaps in anesthesia coverage.
ASCs offer anesthesiologists stipends as competition heats up
Some ASCs have had their patient volumes and bottom lines affected by the inability to access anesthesia providers.
HEALTHCARE NEWS
The advice CEOs put to use in their 1st year on the job
A number of hospitals and health systems appointed new CEOs early last year. Though these CEOs were new to the role and maybe even to the organization, they brought with them past experiences and lessons learned from others, which they were able to use to be a part of meaningful change during their first months on the job.
There's a new financial 'talent hub' — and it's not New York
For finance experts looking for a place to launch, Dallas is the new New York, according to a recent report from Korn Ferry.
'Collaboration will reduce the cost': Penn Medicine CEO talks mergers, margin improvement
From maintaining a positive ratings outlook to having an engaged workforce, Kevin Mahoney, CEO of the University of Pennsylvania Health System, part of Philadelphia-based Penn Medicine said overall, 2023 was great for the health system, and for 2024, it's about continued margin improvement.
The tide is turning on healthcare megamergers
Proposed healthcare mergers and acquisitions are continuing to face backlash from hospital and physician groups along with state and federal lawmakers — signaling a turn of the tide against megadeals.