Issue link: https://beckershealthcare.uberflip.com/i/148062
8 Sign up for Becker's Orthopedic, Spine Business & Pain Management E-Weeklies at www.BeckersOrthopedicandSpine.com or call (800) 417-2035 doctors are not becoming employed by hospitals as quickly as originally expected, particularly in key specialties. However, there are not as many new specialists today establishing large independent practices as there had been over the last 20 years. Furthermore, in many areas the surgery center market is relatively saturated and there are a limited number of independent physicians available to be owners in third-party ventures or buy into surgery centers because a large number of independent physicians already have ownership interests in other centers or are employed by a health system which prevents them from becoming owners in third-party ventures. Surgery centers are also facing the same reimbursement challenges that hospitals and health systems are facing, including the movement toward highdeductible health plans and healthcare exchanges. 5. Independent Practices and Physician Trends. Many independent physician practices, like independent hospitals, seem intent on remaining independent. However, practices seem to gravitate quickly towards hospital employment when their professional income decreases by even relatively small amounts. That stated, if an inde- 14 Spine Surgeons Receive Leadership Awards (continued from page 1) Robert S. Bray Jr., MD, CEO & Founding Director of DISC Sports & Spine Center in Marina del Rey, Calif. Dr. Bray founded DISC Sports & Spine Center in 2006, which now includes multiple practice locations and two ambulatory surgery centers. He previously founded the Institute for Spinal Disorders at CedarsSinai Medical Center and served as director of neurosurgery and headed the spine program at St. John's Medical Center, Century City Hospital and Daniel Freeman Memorial Hospital. Throughout his career, Dr. Bray has spent more than 20 years on active and reserve duty with the United States Air Force and received multiple medals for his contributions to protocol development and teaching wartime trauma techniques. His practice is currently devoted to minimally invasive outpatient spine surgery and he holds several patents for innovative spinal implants and surgical instruments. In recent years, DISC has partnered with several elite athletic organizations to provide care for Red Bull America athletes, Olympic athletes and the Los Angeles Kings, along with other professional athletes. In addition to his clinical practice, Dr. Bray has trained more than 25 fellows and lectures internationally on spine-related topics. pendent practice wishes to remain independent, it needs to: (1) be absolutely exceptional in its niche in its geographic area, (2) be very lean and be able to survive with the unknown changes in reimbursement, and/or (3) be so extraordinary in a specific area that it stands out in terms of patient need or payer need. Physician practices are also facing challenges with respect to specialist recruitment, as there remain shortages and surpluses of specialists depending on the market — some markets still have far more specialists than needed. In addition, it will be fascinating to see whether hospitalemployed specialists' compensation continues to remain at the lofty levels it is now in the future, or whether hospitals will reduce employed specialists' compensation as reimbursement for hospital services declines over time due to changes in Medicare and the development of healthcare exchanges and high-deductible health plans. We have two exciting events towards the end of year that will focus on and discuss a lot of these issues. For information on these events, please feel free to contact me by email at sbecker@ mcguirewoods.com or Kirsten Doell at kdoell@ mcguirewoods.com or Lauren Groeper at Beck- John Caruso, MD, FACS, President of Parkway Neuroscience & Spine Institute/Parkway Surgery Center, Hagerstown, Md. Dr. Caruso is a dedicated advocate for physician rights and co-founded "Save Our Doctors, Protect Our Patients" campaign. He initiated and helped create legislation to reimburse physicians for trauma care delivery in Maryland and helped to sustain the extensive Maryland trauma care system with his legislative efforts. During his career, Dr. Caruso has been a national spokesman for Doctors for Medical Liability Reform and a board member of Blue Chip Surgical Partners. He has a vision of providing comprehensive spine care and was the driving force behind Parkway, an integrated treatment facility that features an ambulatory surgery center, imaging center and physical therapy. Dr. Caruso is board-certified by the American Board of Neurological Surgery and a member of the Congress of Neurological Surgeons. He performs numerous procedures, including minimally invasive surgery, complex instrumentation and lumbar spinal surgery. John Dietz, MD, OrthoIndy, Indianapolis Dr. Dietz is a spine surgeon with OrthoIndy, a large physician practice that also includes the Indiana Orthopaedic Hospital. Dr. Dietz is founder and former chairman of the board of managers er's Healthcare lgroeper@beckershealthcare. com. Specifically, the 20th Annual Surgery Center Conference will be taking place October 27th through the 29th. We have great leaders in the surgery center industry scheduled to speak at the conference in addition to keynote speakers such as David Feherty, Rick Pitino, Bonnie Blaire and Bob Woodward. The conference is geared to administrators and physician owners. In addition, in the hospital arena, our 3rd Annual CEO Roundtable will be taking place at the Ritz Carlton on November 14th where we have scheduled an amazing, star studded lineup of hospital senior leadership to speak and discuss the most critical issues facing hospitals and health systems. For brochures on either event, please feel free to email me at sbecker@mcguirewoods.com or Kirsten Doell at kdoell@mcguirewoods.com. Very truly yours, Scott Becker, Publisher for IOH and remains active in the North American Spine Society, Scoliosis Research Society and American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. As a former Army orthopedic surgeon, he is a member of the Society of Military Orthopaedic Surgeons as well. Throughout his career, Dr. Dietz has contributed to spine device and technique innovation. He has been awarded patents on surgical instruments used in endoscopic spine surgery and has published research in several medical journals. Additionally, Dr. Dietz has presented at several national meetings of orthopedic surgeons. Dr. Dietz earned his medical degree from Duke University School of Medicine in Durham, N.C., and completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Madigan Army Medical Center in Tacoma. His additional training includes a fellowship in spine surgery at Swedish Hospital Medical Center in Seattle. He has a professional interest in treating scoliosis, spine trauma and cervical spine disorders. Charles Gordon, MD, Founder of Precision Spine Care, Tyler, Texas Dr. Gordon is founder of Gordon Spine Associates — now known as Precision Spine care — and co-founder of Texas Spine & Joint Hospital, a privately-owned hospital focused on orthopedic and spine procedures.