Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for Feb. 15, 2018.
Stryker achieves 95% ownership of Vexim
After crossing the 95 percent threshold in Vexim, Stryker plans to file a public buy-out offer followed by a squeeze-out for outstanding Vexim shares. Stryker first acquired 92 percent of Vexim's share capital and 91 percent of the company's voting rights from November to December 2017. Later in December 2017, Stryker acquired an additional 300,016 shares.
Trump's 2019 budget blueprint
President Donald Trump released his $4.4 trillion budget for fiscal 2019 with an addendum to partially account for the two-year bipartisan budget deal reached in Congress last week. President Trump's proposal would add $984 billion to the deficit in 2019 and more than $7 trillion over the next decade, which would bring the projected deficit down by $3.6 trillion, according to Politico. Read about the budget, here.
New Mexico judge demands Quorum Health pay patient $2.3M after botched bone cement spinal treatment
A New Mexico bankruptcy judge ordered Quorum Health Resources of Tennessee to pay an Alamogordo, N.M.-based Gerald Champion Regional Hospital patient $2.3 million after a failed bone cement spinal procedure, according to the Albuquerque Journal. The judge awarded another three patients $10 million in damages after finding Quorum Health failed to prevent harm to patients at Alamogordo-based Gerald Champion Regional Hospital from 2007 to 2008. Read more about the case, here.
3 neurosurgeons open Brigham & Women's Neurosurgery of Milford
Milford (Mass.) Regional Medical Center welcomed three neurosurgeons Timothy Smith, MD, PhD, Hasan Zaidi, MD, and Omar Arnaout, MD, to its staff. The neurosurgeons joined Milford Regional Medical Center after opening the Brigham and Women's Neurosurgery of Milford (Mass.).
Titan Medical reports 2017 full-year financial results
Along with launching a new minimally invasive surgical system, Titan Medical reported strong full-year 2017 financial results. Titan Medical's research and development expenses for 2017 reached $12.90 million compared to $22.58 million in 2016.
NASS seeks comment on lumbar interspinous devices without fusion, decompression coverage recommendation
The North American Spine Society opened a 30-day comment period on coverage recommendations for lumbar interspinous devices without fusion and decompression Feb. 8. You can find a draft of the proposed coverage policy recommendations here. The recommendation covers interspinous devices that are intended for use in conjunction with direct decompressive procedures.
University of Tennessee Medical Center opens $13.2M neurotrauma center: 3 highlights
Knoxville-based University of Tennessee Medical Center recently opened a new neuro critical care center within its Brain & Spine Institute. UT Medical Center spent 18 months developing the $13.2 million, 26,000-square-feet center adds 24 beds.
University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine to open new department of surgery for orthopedic, neurosurgery
Medical students at the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine will soon have a new department of surgery to build on their patient care and surgical training, according to Northern Nevada Business Weekly. The new department of surgery will be for third-year medical students who are specializing in orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, plastic surgery, otorhinolaryngology and urology.