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ORTHOPEDIC SECTION
5 Key Notes on Quality Metrics for Total Joint
Replacement Bundled Payments
By Laura Dyrda
A
study published in e Journal of Bone
and Joint Surgery examines quality met-
rics for total joint replacements.
e researchers analyzed data from a large ter-
tiary academic medical center in an urban area
that participated in the CMS Bundled Payments
for Care Improvement Initiative for total joint
replacement surgery. e medical center par-
ticipated in the BPCI Model 2, which includes
care for 90 days following discharge.
ere were 721 Medicare patients who fell with-
in the bundle in year one and 785 in the third
year. e researchers compared data from year
one to year three. e researchers found:
1. e length of stay in the hospital decreased
from 3.58 days in the first year to 2.96 days in
the third year.
2. Forty-four percent of the patients in year one
were discharged to an inpatient facility, com-
pared to 28 percent in year three.
3. irty-day readmission rates dropped from 7
percent in the first year to 5 percent in the third
year. Readmission rates in the first 60 days aer
surgery dropped 11 percent to 6 percent and 90-
day readmission rates fell 13 percent to 8 per-
cent from year one to year three.
4. Cost for the 90-day episode of care dropped
20 percent from the first year to the third year.
5. e study authors concluded the BPCI bundled
payment program "increased value to all stake-
holders involved in this initiative" and suggested
continued gains are possible in the future.
n
Vero Orthopaedics
& Neurology Adds
ASC: 4 Key Notes
By Laura Dyrda
Vero Orthopaedics & Neurology
in Vero Beach, Fla., opened an
ASC.
Here are four key notes:
1. The ASC will include treatment
for spine, elbow, knee, foot, ankle,
hand, shoulder and wrist surgery.
The facility will also include sports
medicine and interventional pain
management.
2. Vero Orthopaedics & Neurol-
ogy opened in 1976 and includes
locations in Vero Beach, Sebastian
and Fort Pierce, Fla.
3. The physicians affiliated with
the center are John Atwater, MD;
Erin Forest, MD; Robert Hill, DO;
William Kane, MD; John Peden,
MD; Arthur D. Kalman, DO; Kent
Smillie, MD; Guy Hickman Jr., MD;
and Seth Coren, MD.
4. The practice includes a joint re-
placement center, spine center,
physical medicine and rehabilita-
tion center and neurology center in
addition to sports medicine, osteo-
porosis and bone health services.
n
Zimmer Biomet, J&J, Stryker & More:
15 Device Company Key Notes
By Anuja Vaidya
H
ere are 15 key notes on orthope-
dic and spine device companies
from the past week.
Zimmer Biomet resolved an issue in-
volving allegations Biomet violated U.S.
Foreign Corrupt Policies Act before the
companies merged, paying a $30.5 mil-
lion settlement.
Johnson & Johnson Medical Device
Companies launched their Orthopaedic
Episode of Care Approach, an offering to
help health systems and surgeons reduce
costs and increase quality for value-based
alternative care models in orthopedics.
Kalamazoo, Mich.-based Stryker is ex-
pected to report net sales of $11.3 bil-
lion for 2016, according to the compa-
ny's preliminary fourth quarter and full
year financial report.
Leesburg, Va.-based K2M's full-year
2016 revenue will likely reach between
$236.1 million and $236.6 million, ac-
cording to preliminary financial results for
the fourth quarter and full year of 2016,
ended Dec. 31.
Carlsbad, Calif.-based SeaSpine report-
ed preliminary and unaudited revenue
will hit between $32.5 million and $32.7
million for Q4 2016.
Lewisville, Texas-based Orthofix In-
ternational received FDA approval for
its CervicalStim and SpinalStim bone
growth stimulators.
Atlanta-based Medovex Corp. entered
into an international distribution agree-
ment with AlfaMed, an Italy-based spine
surgery equipment supplier.
Marietta, Ga.-based Amendia named
Gary Maingot the new executive vice
president of operations.
Walnut Creek, Calif.-based Providence
Medical Technology appointed Gregory
S. Curhan the new CFO and senior vice
president of corporate development.
Israel-based Expanding Orthopedics re-
ported a more than 100 percent revenue
growth for its FLXfit expandable cage in
the second half of 2016.
Lyon, France-based Medicrea filed its
510(k) submission to the FDA for its 3-D-
printed titanium spinal interbody devices.
Whale Imaging, based in Waltham,
Mass., unveiled its G-Arm B6 Duo.
Spinal Simplicity, based in Overland Park,
Kan., received six new patents in 2016.
The U.S. Patent Office allowed Carlsbad,
Calif.-based Aurora Spine's patent ap-
plication, titled "Polyaxial Interspinous
Fusion Implant and Bone Growth Stimula-
tion System."
Cambridge, Mass.-based InVivo Thera-
peutics added Providence-based Rhode
Island Hospital to its INSPIRE study. n
