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16 PRACTICE MANAGEMENT 3 strategies for spine surgeons to grow revenue in 2024 By Carly Behm Spine surgeons are thinking about how to grow their practice revenues, and looking toward ways to grow patient reach will be crucial. ree strategies spine surgeons should consider: 1. Geographic expansion Growing geographic reach can make patient access easier for practices, and the investment doesn't have to be huge. "Spine practices can increase revenue in the current economic climate by expanding their geographic reach and considering satellite clinics in underserved areas or tapping into new markets regionally or nationally," Scott Raffa, MD, said. For Jacksonville, Fla.-based Southeast Orthopedics Specialists moving out of traditional settings is part of their expansion strategy. e practice is planning a satellite location, two clinical locations and a building dedicated to ancillary services. 2. Service expansion Along with surgical and clinical care, spine and orthopedic practices can benefit from offering more ancillary services within their offices. Twin Cities Orthopedics integrated with InMotion Physical erapy & Fitness in February, and in May, Healthcare Outcome Performance Company partnered with physical therapy company Luna. In both of these partnerships patient access were emphasized as advantages. "Practices can also enhance income by expanding traditional and innovative physical therapy offerings, such as concussion programs, occupational medicine programs and/or work hardening programs," Philip Schneider, MD, said. 3. Telemedicine Telemedicine, which took off during the COVID-19 pandemic, has been a mainstay with benefits for patients and physicians. A September 2022 study published in the Spine Journal found that telemedicine visits can provide accurate evaluations for pre-op spine patients. e study examined166 patients who made plans for spinal surgery and had new patient telemedicine appointments between April 2020 and April 2021. Researchers concluded that telemedicine appointments serve as adequate evaluations for spinal procedures. "Offering telemedicine services allows spine practices to reach a broader patient base and provide consultations remotely," Brian Fiani, DO, told Becker's. "is can help reduce overhead costs and increase patient satisfaction, leading to potential revenue growth." n 2 Wisconsin hospitals close despite orthopedic group's pushback By Carly Behm T he two Wisconsin hospitals that Altoona, Wis.-based Chippewa Valley Orthopedics & Sports Medicine fought to keep open closed. A spokesperson for Springfield, Ill.-based Hospital Sisters Health System confirmed the closures of Chippewa Falls, Wis.-based St. Joseph's Hospital and Eau Claire, Wis.- based Sacred Heart Hospital to Becker's on March 22. Both hospitals were supposed to close on or before April 21, but HSHS moved up the closure dates. In February Chippewa Valley Orthopedics and Sports Medicine sued HSHS to keep the hospitals open until June 21. The orthopedic practice, which was contracted with HSHS, said the system should have provided a 180-day notice to terminate the relationship. However the orthopedic group's request via a lawsuit to delay the closures was denied by a Wisconsin judge. n 2 Louisiana orthopedic practices to merge By Carly Behm Baton Rouge Orthopaedic Clinic and Lafayette-based Louisiana Orthopedic Specialists plan to merge. Together the practices will form the largest independent orthopedic group in the state, according to a March 15 news release from BROC shared with Becker's. Both practices will operate independently under their existing brands but share combined resources and expertise. The merger is expected to launch in the third quarter of 2024. BROC has 38 physicians and 10 locations. Louisiana Orthopaedic Specialists has 16 physicians, three clinics and three physical therapy locations. n