Dean Toumbis, MD, PhD, of Crystal River, Fla.-based Citrus Spine Institute, shares how independent spine practices can thrive in the future through personalized patient care, hospital collaboration and smart business tactics.
Dr. Toumbis will be speaking at the Becker's 16th Annual Future of Spine + The Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference. To learn more and register, click here.
Question: What do you think the future holds for independent spine practices? What do they need to do to stay afloat with increasing competition?
Dr. Dean Toumbis: I believe that the future for independent spine practices is still a strong one and is likely to become even stronger as many of the surgeons out of residency and fellowship are now seeking employed positions. Good personalized patient care will always be rewarded in the spine profession. Additionally, collaborative efforts, with not only our orthopedic colleagues, but also with hospital administration, are key to success in the future. A successful spine practitioner will also need to be more business-minded now and in the future. Contract negotiations, cost containment and strong staffing are all critical to high profitability.
Q: What new techniques are taking hold in the spine space?
DT: With an increased focus on microsurgery and minimally invasive techniques, many procedures that previously required hospitalization are now done on an outpatient basis. With surgeons as investors in ambulatory surgical centers, this has become another potential source of revenue.