The process for assessing and treating a patient's spinal pain is a long and expensive process. However, if physicians employ a few simple techniques to cut down on the time and expenses while still delivering great treatment outcomes, patient satisfaction will increase. Mark Flood, DO, of Celling Treatment Centers in Austin, Texas, discusses three ways he helps patients save time and money at all stages of the spinal surgery process.
1. Discuss treatment over the phone. Oftentimes, patients are taking time away from work in order to receive the MRI and then discuss the possible treatments. "It becomes a pretty big production just trying to get the information," says Dr. Flood. Instead of having the patient wait at the office until he is available to discuss the results, Dr. Flood allows his patients to return to their activities and discusses treatment options with them over the phone. Dr. Flood also provides free MRI review to his patients. This can be especially helpful to potential patients who would travel out-of-state to obtain his guidance.
2. Operate locally. Facility fees can be staggering for patients needing spine surgery. In order to ensure the payor will cover the procedure, Dr. Flood says physicians should operate at local locations. "We have gone out of our way to make sure we support the local hospitals and surgery centers for the patient's benefit."
Operating locally becomes especially important if the physician is operating with techniques payors will not reimburse for, such as laser or stem cell treatment. Patients receiving these treatments can be reimbursed for facility fees, which cuts patient cost for the entire procedure.
3. Operate on multiple levels at the same time. Patients undergoing spine surgery usually have damage on multiple levels of the spine; however, physicians using minimally invasive techniques usually require multiple surgery dates in order to correct different problems. Instead of correcting one problem at a time as an outpatient procedure in an ambulatory surgery center, Dr. Flood recommends operating on multiple levels or two sides of the same level in a hospital operating room. "We've been very successful at mastering the 'over the top' technique where you can operate on both sides at one time," says Dr. Flood. This saves time and capital because only one operating room visit is required. The procedure takes slightly longer if the physician operates on multiple levels and the patient must stay in the hospital overnight, but resources are saved in the consolidation.
Learn more about Celling Treatment Centers.
Read other coverage on spine surgery:
- Reducing Healthcare Costs: Focus on Severe Back Pain, Depressive Comorbidity Patients
- Spine Surgery Research Update: Treatment of Cervical Spine
- Spine Education Labs Critical in Training for Cutting-Edge Procedures
1. Discuss treatment over the phone. Oftentimes, patients are taking time away from work in order to receive the MRI and then discuss the possible treatments. "It becomes a pretty big production just trying to get the information," says Dr. Flood. Instead of having the patient wait at the office until he is available to discuss the results, Dr. Flood allows his patients to return to their activities and discusses treatment options with them over the phone. Dr. Flood also provides free MRI review to his patients. This can be especially helpful to potential patients who would travel out-of-state to obtain his guidance.
2. Operate locally. Facility fees can be staggering for patients needing spine surgery. In order to ensure the payor will cover the procedure, Dr. Flood says physicians should operate at local locations. "We have gone out of our way to make sure we support the local hospitals and surgery centers for the patient's benefit."
Operating locally becomes especially important if the physician is operating with techniques payors will not reimburse for, such as laser or stem cell treatment. Patients receiving these treatments can be reimbursed for facility fees, which cuts patient cost for the entire procedure.
3. Operate on multiple levels at the same time. Patients undergoing spine surgery usually have damage on multiple levels of the spine; however, physicians using minimally invasive techniques usually require multiple surgery dates in order to correct different problems. Instead of correcting one problem at a time as an outpatient procedure in an ambulatory surgery center, Dr. Flood recommends operating on multiple levels or two sides of the same level in a hospital operating room. "We've been very successful at mastering the 'over the top' technique where you can operate on both sides at one time," says Dr. Flood. This saves time and capital because only one operating room visit is required. The procedure takes slightly longer if the physician operates on multiple levels and the patient must stay in the hospital overnight, but resources are saved in the consolidation.
Learn more about Celling Treatment Centers.
Read other coverage on spine surgery:
- Reducing Healthcare Costs: Focus on Severe Back Pain, Depressive Comorbidity Patients
- Spine Surgery Research Update: Treatment of Cervical Spine
- Spine Education Labs Critical in Training for Cutting-Edge Procedures