Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for May 31, 2018.
Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies constructing $22M surgery center
Loveland, Colo.-based Orthopaedic & Spine Center of the Rockies is constructing an ambulatory surgery and recovery center. The new surgical facility will span 67,000 square feet. The practice is building the new center to ease the patient flow at its existing Fort Collins surgery center. Physicians will now be able to perform hip, knee and shoulder replacements at the center with the available recovery rooms.
Dr. Richard Rothman retires from surgery at 81, but still plans on a 60-hour work week
With 50 years of experience and up to 50,000 joint replacements performed, Richard Rothman, MD, PhD, retired from surgery at 81 years of age. He is the founder of the Philadelphia-based Rothman Institute, which employs 171 physicians. Dr. Rothman will still work about 60 hours a week. Among other activities, he will see patients pre- and postoperatively and help two Chinese firms, an orthopedic implant manufacturer and a group of private hospitals, in which he is a minority investor.
ISASS contracts with AAOS management services program
The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery contracted with the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons' management services program to manage the organization. ISASS hopes the agreement will expand its resources without an additional major capital investment. The organization's board of directors decided to make the service arrangement, but ISASS will remain an independent entity.
Aurora Spine reports record Q1
Aurora Spine saw a record first quarter in 2018, with revenues totaling about $1.5 million. Cost of sales was $626,453, and EBITDAC was more than $73,000, reflecting the company's first positive cashflow quarter.
Cleveland Clinic looks to rein in costs as Q1 operating income dips 22%
Cleveland Clinic ended the first quarter of 2018 with operating income of $47.6 million, down 22 percent from $60.7 million in the same period a year earlier, according to recently released bondholder documents. Cleveland Clinic's revenues increased to $2.12 billion in the first quarter of this year, up 2.6 percent from $2.07 billion in the first quarter of 2017.
How to grow a successful independent spine practice
Four spine surgeons answer tough questions on how to build and sustain a successful practice in today's changing healthcare environment. Read their responses, here.
Marshalltown Orthopedics to close amid surgeon investigation
Marshalltown (Iowa) Orthopedics PC shut its doors May 31. The practice didn't comment on why it's closing, but one of its surgeons is the subject of an ongoing investigation. The Iowa Medical Board is accusing Margaret J. Fehrle, MD, of not providing appropriate orthopedic surgical care to 18 patients between 2008 and 2015. Read more, here.
3 ASCs, Cigna settle alleged ERISA violation suit
Cigna settled a lawsuit accusing three centers of violating the Employee Retirement Income Security Act, according to Law 360. Connecticut General Life Insurance and Cigna Health and Life Insurance filed the suit against three surgery centers, alleging Cigna overpaid the ASCs around $8 million. The ASCs allegedly waived patient payments for out-of-network bills but continued to bill the insurance company. Read about the case, here.