Physician recruiting can be a challenge for healthcare groups, but outpatient settings might have an advantage when it comes to bringing on spine surgeons.
Four spine surgeons discuss the ASC's position in the spine surgeon recruiting market.
Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity.
Question: Can ASCs gain an edge in surgeon recruiting compared to hospitals and health systems?
Brian Fiani, DO. Mendelson Kornblum Orthopedic & Spine Specialists (West Bloomfield, Mich.): Ambulatory surgery centers can potentially gain an edge in surgeon recruiting by offering a more streamlined and efficient work environment, increased autonomy for surgeons, opportunities for ownership or investment, and the ability to focus on specific surgical specialties. Additionally, ASCs may be able to provide more flexible scheduling and potentially higher reimbursement rates for surgeons. It is important for ASCs to highlight these advantages when recruiting surgeons and to tailor their recruitment strategies to attract top talent.
Brian Gantwerker, MD. The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: Always. I think ASCs for the most part offer a superior patient and physician experience. Teamwork and collaboration are very high in these environments, as there are very aligned goals shared by all. The ASC's added benefit of revenue sharing and co-marketing strategies can be mutually beneficial. By far, ASCs do a great job taking care of patients, with case throughput, surgeon time, patient outcomes, and doing things for less. They have been and will continue to be better suited to recruit surgeons.
Vladimir Sinkov, MD. Sinkov Spine (Las Vegas): ASCs can attract spine surgeons by offering greater quality and case efficiency over a hospital. Surgery centers also provide a potential investment opportunity for a spine surgeon.
Christian Zimmerman, MD. St. Alphonsus Medical Group and SAHS Neuroscience Institute (Boise, Idaho): Physician recruitment in all specialties remains challenging because of current economics, relocation and medical licensure requirements. Lending assistance in any of these tedious requirements is attractive along with practice growth opportunities and call sharing.