Here are three key thoughts from Kern Singh, MD, co-director of the Minimally Invasive Spine Institute at Rush in Chicago about the most important trends in 2018.
1. 2018 will be the year of the robot in spine surgery. Almost every major spine company will have released their next-generation robot. Look for robots to do more than just help place pedicle screws. Navigation, surgical assistance and even help with the surgical decompressions are on the horizon.
2. EHR will continue to take a toll on small or individual practices. The cost to keep these systems up-to-date, the numerous government mandated requirements and the loss in clinical productivity will continue to challenge small orthopedic and neurosurgical groups forcing them into further consolidation with large health consortiums.
3. Social media continues to be a relatively untapped, low-cost, high-yield marketing strategy for spine surgeons. The ability to make announcements, updates and provide patient education in real time can be very effective for spine surgical practices.