Becker's Spine Review

November 2015 l Vol. 2015 No. 11 INSIDE Spine Surgery in ASCs: Are You There Yet? Nine things to know about spine surgery in ambulatory surgery centers and where the procedures are headed in the future. p. 18 Has Orthopedic Surgeon Salary Diminished? Merritt Hawkins reports on orthopedic surgeon salary over the last five years. p. 43 Hospitals Turn to Physician Practice Acquisition for Growth Hospitals are now acquiring physician groups instead of other hospitals for growth — five things to know. p. 44 Spine Payments, Competition, New Techniques: The Most Exciting Aspects of Spine How the biggest business and clinical trends affect spine practices. p. 48 14 th Annual Spine, Orthopedic & Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + The Future of Spine June 9-11, 2016 | Swissotel, Chicago Over 124 Physicians Speaking, Primarily Spine Surgeons, with 200+ Speakers Total and 117 Sessions SAVE THE DATE BECKER'S SPINE REVIEW Future of Private Practice: Key Thoughts From OrthoCarolina CEO Dr. Daniel Murrey OrthoCarolina has grown into one of the largest orthopedic practices in the United States. In this article, CEO and spine surgeon Daniel Murrey, MD, discusses how the practice grew over the past several years and the key concepts for success going forward. "A lot of the change is driven by the increasing volume of data. Big data is real and we are being asked to contribute," says Dr. Murrey. "Groups that aren't on EMR or digital radiology now have to worry about data collection. If you are in a solo practice, the idea of spending nights and weekends understanding regulatory changes and learning government updates is difficult." Orthopedic surgeons, and spine surgeons in particular, remain among the most indepen- dent specialists in the country. However, the solo practitioners and small groups are dwindling as the cost to do business outpaces reimbursement increase. Is there still a place for independent physicians in the future? How will healthcare reform changes impact independent physicians? Dr. Murrey addresses these questions and more. See the full story on page 21. ON PAGE 20: 10 Spine Surgeons on the Move; 10 Statistics on Neurosurgeon Salary & Bonuses How the Economy Affects Spine Surgeons Charles eofilos, MD, discusses three of the biggest economic issues affecting spine surgeons and what they need to know going forward. He covers consumer spending, inflation and unemployment trends and how surgeons can evaluate each trend in individu- al markets to take the right next step for their businesses. See the full story on page 16. The 2016 Presidential Campaign Trail: Key Issues for Spine Surgeons While still early in the race, some candidates for the 2016 presidential seat have made their stance on the biggest issues affecting physicians and healthcare in the United States adamant- ly clear. North American Spine Society's John Finkenberg, MD, and Alan Hilibrand, MD, discuss the key items for spine surgeons to follow for the presidential race as well as local elections. See the full story on page 8. Lou Holtz Tucker Carlson

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