Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1164972
21 SPINE SURGEONS At the cutting edge of spine — Key thoughts from Dr. Kevin Foley on technology, big data and more By Laura Dyrda K evin Foley, MD, is the chairman of Semmes Murphey Clinic and director of complex spine surgery at Semmes Murphey in Memphis, Tenn. His practice focuses on minimally invasive surgery, robotics and disc regeneration. He has written more than 35 book chapters and 125- plus scientific journal publications. He also invested in several medical devices and has been issued 150 patents. Earlier this year, Dr. Foley received the American Association of Neurological Surgeons Cushing Award for Technical Excellence and Innovation in Neurosurgery. Dr. Foley shared key thoughts on the most exciting technology to watch and how the spine field is evolving. Question: What emerging technology are you most inter- ested in today and why? Dr. Kevin Foley: I am interested in technologies that have the poten- tial to improve upon various aspects of contemporary spine surgery, especially those that can add value by improving the quality of spine surgery at a competitive cost. For example, I am involved in the de- velopment of progenitor cells derived from human disc tissue to treat degenerative disc disease and postpone or avoid fusion, ultrasonic imaging combined with artificial intelligence-enhanced algorithms to detect critical neural structures and prevent damage to these struc- tures, a bioresorbable, osteoconductive, wet-field mineral-organic bone adhesive to repair and enhance bony structures and improve spinal fixation in poor quality bone, an improved means of generating intraoperative three-dimensional images, and a cost-effective spinal robotic system. Q: How do you think your practice will change in the next three years? What are you doing today to prepare? KF: Over the next year or two, my practice will likely change incre- mentally. Already, for example, the majority of my spinal surgery cases are performed minimally invasively and over half are performed in our surgery center. is trend will continue and slowly increase. Beyond that near term, I expect to see more significant changes in reimburse- ment, continued pressures on providers to lower costs and risk-share, the adoption of the above and other new technologies, especially if they improve the value of care and/or address previously unmet clin- ical needs, and increasing involvement of physicians in managing the healthcare system. We are the key drivers of improved value. We are doing several things at Semmes-Murphey Clinic to prepare for the future. We have entered into co-management agreements with the two largest regional healthcare systems, we are constructing a prospec- tive bundle of our services to market to businesses, and we continue to emphasize and measure quality. In that regard, we have been major contributors to the Quality Outcomes Database and will be a vanguard site for the newly organized AANS-AAOS American Spine Registry. Q: What is the most dangerous trend in healthcare, spine or orthopedics today and why? KF: I believe the most dangerous trend in healthcare has been the ten- dency of too many physicians not to get involved in the management of the field. Delivering quality patient care can be time-consuming and exhausting, but we ignore the management of healthcare delivery at our peril and ultimately, to the detriment of our patients. n Phoenix hospital network expands spine, orthopedic services — 4 insights By Alan Condon S cottsdale, Ariz.-based HonorHealth is bolstering its hospital network in north Phoenix, reports Globe St. Four insights: 1. The 210,000-square-foot center, HonorHealth Sonoran Medical Center, will offer orthopedic and general sur- gery physicians offices and provide same-day surgical services. 2. The new facility will feature 40 inpatient beds and pro- vide minimally invasive orthopedic and spine care to pa- tients of all ages. 3. It will be HonorHealth's sixth valley hospital in north Phoenix. 4. HSMC is set for completion in September 2020. n Medtronic plans to launch product rivaling Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci: 3 insights By Angie Stewart M edtronic has a product in the pipeline that will direct- ly compete with Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci system, Seeking Alpha reports. Three insights: 1. The company will present details about the soft tissue surgical robot on Sept. 24. It's expected to be launched outside the U.S. sometime in 2020. 2. The device could have "some impact" on Intuitive Sur- gical's business, analyst Lee Hambright told Seeking Al- pha. 3. Intuitive Surgical is a pioneer in robotic surgery. In 2000, its da Vinci system became the first robotic surgery system that was FDA-approved for general laparoscopic surgery and commercially available in the U.S. n