Forbes Features Dr. Todd Albert: The Future of Data Sharing, Transparency & Culture Change in Spine Surgery

Spine

Todd AlbertTodd Albert, MD, president of Rothman Institute and chairman of the department of orthopedics at Thomas Jefferson Hospital in Philadelphia, discussed the National Orthopedic & Spine Alliance with Forbes at the Forbes Healthcare Summit.

 

"We have an important job to do as specialists and academicians to cross that hurdle and be able to take care of patients with higher quality and lower cost," said Dr. Albert during the interview. "Some of the things we are doing — we are forming alliances to bundle, bundle data and be able to achieve those goals."

 

He discussed the National Orthopedic & Spine Alliance — four large orthopedic groups that collect data and approach large employers to provide care at a lower cost for employees. Members of the group include Rothman Institute, OrthoCarolina, Cleveland Clinic and The CORE Institute.

 

"When you start to do projects like this, you have to begin to say everything is transparent and open book," said Dr. Albert. "If we do something better where we obtain either a lesser length of stay or better outcome measure based on the outcome measure we all agreed to, we have to change that way. One of the ways you can better measure is to make care paths. If you have a total hip, we are going to do it this way, all of us agree we are going to do it whatever this way is."

 

If someone deviates from the path and gets better results, then the care path could change. Practicing data transparency is a culture change for many physicians and spine surgeons, but Dr. Albert sees this change as improving patient care.

 

"What you learn in hospital is that transparency is a really positive thing," said Dr. Albert. "Transparency in running [Rothman Institute] works very well. Transparency in data, looking at infection rates, instantly makes people drop down and start to perform better."

 

More Articles on Spine Surgery:
Spine Surgery Coverage: What to Expect With Shared Risk & Savings
Spinal Fusion Postoperative Radiographs: Do They Have Value?
17 Spine Devices Receive FDA 510(k) Clearance in October

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