Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/1198635
9 SPINE SURGEONS Dr. Jaime Nieto: Endoscopic spine surgery is the next skill patients will demand By Laura Dyrda J aime Nieto, MD, is chief of the sec- tion of neurological surgery and spine surgery at Flushing-based NewYork-Presbyterian/Queens. Dr. Nieto describes the big technol- ogy trends in spine today, and the threat of siloed care. Question: What emerging technol- ogy are you most interested in to- day and why? Dr. Jaime Nieto: Endoscopic spine surgery will become the skill that pa- tients will ask their spine surgeons about. Patients are becoming more interested in their care and with the internet resources they will be able to find what they want. Minimally inva- sive surgery continues to evolve and the endoscopic techniques will pro- mote evolution. Q: How do you think your practice will change in the next three years? What are you doing today to pre- pare? JN: The advent of technology and mobile delivery of medicine is the next frontier. In our hospital we are developing telemedicine directly to the consumer and to our colleagues. Q: What is the most dangerous trend in healthcare, spine or ortho- pedics today and why? JN: The lack of comprehensive and multidisciplinary care in spine avail- able to all patients outside major medical centers. Having single spe- cialty silos for the care of complex spine conditions does not fully help patients. n New York spine surgeon pleads guilty to illegal painkiller prescription, faces $250K fine By Laura Dyrda A nthony Leone, MD, pleaded guilty to writing himself illegal prescrip- tions for pain medication, according to The Buffalo News. Dr. Leone is a spine and general orthopedic surgeon practicing in Cheektowaga, N.Y. He previously underwent spine surgeries that left him in pain, and he admitted to prescribing himself painkillers and then lying about using them on a controlled substances commercial distributor form. According to the report, Dr. Leone obtained Adderall XR, hydrocodone, clonazepam, tramadol and zolpidem in bulk. When investigators found the painkillers during a search of Dr. Leone's office in April 2018, he told them the drugs were for patients. Dr. Leone has since undergone a six-week treatment program and is now sub- ject to random drug testing. He will continue his medical practice. Dr. Leone faces a $250,000 fine based on the maximum penalty for the charges, according to a statement from the Western Distsrict of New York. n Neurosurgeon faces murder charges in California over opioid over-prescription: 4 details By Laura Dyrda T homas Keller, MD, a California-based neurosurgeon, has been charged with second degree murder for allegedly writing non-medically necessary opioid prescriptions from 2011 to 2017. Four things to know: 1. e California Attorney General's office reported Dr. Keller was arrested and arraigned in connection with five patient deaths aer he prescribed them "dangerously high levels of addictive opioids and narcotics." He allegedly prescribed Vicodin, oxycodone, OxyContin, Percocet and morphine outside acceptable levels for clinical practice. 2. Dr. Keller faces second-degree murder charges related to nine patients and felony elder abuse charges connected with five patient deaths. He pleaded not guilty in August. 3. A complaint filed in the Superior Court for Santa Rosa County alleged Dr. Keller pre- scribed maximum dosages of 180 to 300 pills per prescription, which exceeds the 50 mg Morphine Equivalent Dosage standard set by the CDC. He received red flag warnings from pharmacies and insurance companies, but continued to prescribe the high level of dosages. 4. e California Department of Justice's Bureau of Medi-Cal Fraud and Elder Abuse con- ducted an investigation that sparked this case. n