Becker's Spine Review

38 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT The best opportunities for spinal biologics and practice improvement today: Q&A with Dr. Jeffrey Wang By Laura Dyrda J effrey Wang, MD, chief of the ortho- pedic spine service and co-director of the USC Spine Center in Los Angeles, discusses biologics in spine surgery and the best opportunities for practice growth in the future. Question: How do you see spine technolo- gy evolving over the next few years? What do you think will be the biggest innovation that will stick? Dr. Jeffrey Wang: I think there will be some innovative products in the device area, but I am hopeful that we are seeing more biologi- cal products and potential trials, that may be treating the spinal pathologies at a more basic level. I do think this is ideally possible in the future, and hope there is continued innova- tions in this area. I also hope that we see more evidence to support some of the biological treatments that are currently being used to- day. One of the largest problems that I see in the arena is the lack of real scientific evidence supporting some of the biological products being used. ere are a lot of marketing materials and pamphlets, and even white papers, which are not peer-reviewed. It is difficult to separate the marketing from the real science. I would love to see real evidence of efficacy for some of these biological treatments. is includes the stem cell injections, platelet rich plasma, all the way to demineralized bone gras and bone gra extenders. We should be basing our clinical decisions on real science, which I would love to see published in the near future. Certainly, novel technology for new treatments will need this evidence to justify the development and use of novel products. Q: Where do you see the best two to three opportunities to improve your practice within the next few years? Will you make any strategic changes? JW: All practices are different in size, com- munity, and academic versus private practice. But, the increasing regulatory environment, electronic records and the ever-changing requirements, put more strain on each phy- sician. I see in the near future, practices learn- ing to adapt and develop more efficient work- flows. I think it is very important to work with your hospital to develop pathways for more comprehensive and better care for the patients, and to focus on reducing costs and length of stay. Basically, everyone needs to look at efficien- cy, and optimize workflows throughout their practice and in all areas of patient care. We have partnered with our hospital to deliver better care that is more efficient and cost-ef- fective. Along those same lines, the practice needs to eliminate waste and improve com- munication within the practice, and between the practice and referring physicians, the hos- pital and the university. We are also focusing on improving our international referrals and streamlining the process for those increasing international patients who are seeking care and opinions from our institution. Q: What percentage of your practice is ver- tebral compression fractures and how do you manage treatment for those patients? JW: is comprises a smaller part of my prac- tice. Certainly, we see patients with compres- sion fractures, and in our emergency room and our referrals, these patients are seen as a larger problem. We try to treat them as a whole and consider their metabolic needs, connecting them with the appropriate med- ical care providers. As for surgeries or pro- cedures, we are seeing more interventional radiologists doing these without a general anesthesia, and in many cases, this could be a safer way to treat them, avoiding a gener- al anesthesia. Certainly, there are those who do need surgery, but I am seeing that this is a smaller part of my surgical practice. n See at NASS 2018, Booth #1541 © 2018. Esaote North America, Inc. | 11907 Exit Five Parkway | Fishers, IN 46037 | www.esaoteusa.com NASS Becker's Print.indd 1 7/19/18 2:06 PM Colorado hospital ends relationship with Vail Summit Orthopaedics: 5 highlights By Mackenzie Garrity F risco, Colo.-based St. Anthony Summit Medical Center declined to re- new its contract with Vail (Colo.) Summit Orthopaedics, according to the Summit Daily. Here are five highlights: 1. St. Anthony, instead, partnered with Denver-based Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center, effective Oct. 1. 2. Vail Summit Orthopaedics surgeons have been providing emergency trau- ma surgery for Summit patients for more than 30 years. 3. Some Vail Summit Orthopaedics surgeons believe the hospital's partnership with Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center is retaliation after Vail Summit Or- thopaedics did not agree to a contract that would exclusively commit its sur- geons to St. Anthony. 4. Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center's new practice will be named Summit Orthopedics at Panorama Orthopedics & Spine Center. 5. St. Anthony Summits's interim CEO Marshall Denkinger, MD, denied accusa- tions its decision to find new trauma surgeons was out of retaliation. n

• Cover