Becker's Spine Review

49 Where Non-operative Spine Specialists Fit in the Future: What Surgeons Need to Know By Nicola Hawkinson, DNP, RN, RNFA, CEO of SpineSearch N on-operative spine special- ists are able to work in tan- dem with spine surgeons in a practice when conservative treat- ment has failed; a spine surgeon is able to move forward with the case if surgery is required. Working with non-operating physicians has the potential to enhance your practices revenue while improving patient outcomes. Here are four things sur- geons need to know: 1. Spine surgeons and non-operative spine spe- cialists can make all-star team Non-operative specialties are a good option for patients who want to opt for less invasive treatment. A spine surgeon can benefit from using a non-operative spine specialist in their practice. Not every patient wants to have surgery from the onset and will be happy that there are alternative treatment options for their condition. 2. Make good use of the experts you have Non-operating spine physicians are experts in spine medicine, pain management, as well as injury prevention and wellness. They specialize in the use of conservative treatment utilizing oral medications, physical therapy, and use of modalities. This expertise enables the specialist to determine the appropriate type and amount of physical therapy that is medically indi- cated for a given patient or diagnosis. It used to be relatively easy for spine surgeons to maintain their net incomes by see- ing more patients and doing more surgeries. Now, surgeons have to employ other experts and ancillaries to maintain financial stability. 3. The benefits The upsides of hiring a non-operating physician include: Pa- tients are able to be seen on short notice, this appeals to pa- tients and enhances the practice's quality of service. Non-op- erative physicians can also refer patients to the surgeon if they think surgery is necessary. They also free up the surgeon to perform more surgeries rather than being flooded with both surgical and non-surgical patients. 4. The future Surgeons can develop a business plan with the non-operative specialists that can further the practice and appeal to a wide range of patients. Generating a good net income is depen- dent upon the need for both surgeon and non-operating specialists. A good way to maintain patient satisfaction and gain more new patients is to develop a marketing strategy for your practice. Giving patients the tools they need to make informed decisions about their care is a great way to expand the practice for the surgeon and non-operating specialist. n When Spine Surgery Navigation Becomes Cost-Effective: 5 Key Notes By Laura Dyrda A new study published in e Spine Journal examines the economics associated with CT-based navigation and conventional fluoroscopy for placing pedicle screws during spine surgery. e researchers examined 502 patients who had 5,132 pedi- cle screws placed. ere were 2,682 screws placed in 253 patients in the treatment group using the O-arm imaging and StealthSta- tion S7 Navigation Systems from Medtronic. ere were 2,450 screws placed in 249 patients in the control group. e researchers calculated capital costs, annual maintenance costs and reoperation costs for each case. e researchers found: 1. Accuracy rates were 92.5 percent in the treatment group and 86.9 percent in the control group. 2. One year aer treatment, two patients required revision surgery in the treatment group while 15 patients — 6 percent — required reoperation in the control group. 3. e incremental cost effectiveness ratio was $15,961 per re- operation avoided for the computer-assisted group. Based on the $12,618 reoperation cost, the new technology becomes cost-sav- ing for centers performing more than 254 instrumented spinal procedures per year. 4. e researchers concluded computer-assisted spinal surgery could reduce reoperation rates and lower associated costs. It could also have policy implications going forward. 5. e costs to acquire and maintain the technology can be offset by cost-savings from reduced reoperations. "Our cost-effective- ness analysis showed that for high volume centers with a similar case complexity to the studied population, this technology is economically justified," concluded the study authors.n

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