March Issue of Becker's Spine Review

March 2015

On the Cover

	Words From the Wise: Dr. Gunnar Andersson on Spine Surgery’s Evolution, Leadership & Life After Clinical  Practice Gunnar Andersson, MD, retired from clinical practice on Dec. 31, 2014 as chairman emeritus of the orthopedic  surgery department at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. Click here to continue >>
	Spotlight on a Spine Surgeon Leader: Dr. Alexander Vaccaro Alexander Vaccaro, MD, discusses some of his key thoughts on healthcare today and leadership for the future.  Click here to continue >>
	6 Key Thoughts on Spinal Implants, Outpatient Surgery & Future Expectations  More spine procedures are shifting into the outpatient setting as physicians are becoming more comfortable with  less invasive procedures. Click here to continue >>

Publisher’s Letter 
This issue of Becker’s Spine Review includes expertise from spine surgeons, practice owners and operators, device industry executives and other key stakeholders. Click here to continue >> 

Spine Leadership

5 Things to Know About Hospital Costs for Anterior Cervical Fusions

A study published in The Spine Journal examines the preoperative predictors of increased hospital costs for elective anterior cervical fusions. Click here to continue >>

Where Do Physicians Earn the Most? 
Physician compensation trends are unusual compared to other industries, according to data from physician social networking site Doximity. Click here to continue >>

Technology & Innovation

Spinal Implant Material Matters: What Titanium Can Do for You (and Your Patients) 
Titan Spine is a surface technology company focused on titanium interbody fusion implants, and is experiencing successful results. Click here to continue >>

Why Endoscopic Spine Surgery is the Next Tech Disruptor
Endoscopic transforaminal decompressive surgery is one of the up-and-coming technologies that could change how traditional spine surgery is performed. Click here to continue >>

13th Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference + The Future of Spine brochure

55 Spine Surgeons on the Forefront of Biologics & Stem Cells
Here are 60 spine surgeons who are participating in clinical trials or have a research focus on biologics and/or stem cells for spine surgery. Click here to continue >>

Medtronic Pays $2.8M in False Claims Settlement — 5 Things to Know
The newly-dubbed Medtronic PLC agreed to pay $2.8 million to the United States Justice Department to settle the false claims case alleging illegal payments to physicians, according to a Star Tribune report. Click here to continue>>

Practice Management 

5 Top Investments for Spine Surgeons Today 
The spine surgeon's world is changing rapidly. As healthcare reform changes the landscape, surgeons are looking for the best way to spend their time and resources while optimizing their practices. Click here to continue >>

18 Statistics on Orthopedic Surgeon Salary & Bonus
Here are 18 statistics on salaries and bonuses for orthopedic surgeons from Salary.com. Click here to continue>>

The PA’s Role Today: 5 Key Thoughts 
Here five spine surgeons discuss the role and scope-of-practice for physician assistants in today's healthcare 
climate. Click here to continue >>

Healthcare Trends

A Physician Shortage is Coming — Will it Impact Spine? 
What will happen when there aren't enough spine specialists? Click here to continue >>

BCBS of Texas Forms 1st ACO-Like Organization With State Medical Association 
BlueCross BlueShield of Texas and the Texas Medical Association are partnering to launch a first-of-its-kind initiative: an ACO-like organization with a medical association, rather than a hospital or health system. Click here to continue >>

Medical Errors Still a Leading Cause of Death in America
Medical errors rank third among the leading causes of death in the United States, according to some studies cited in a recent Vox article. Click here to continue>>

UCLA to Pilot Inclusion of Genomic Data in EHR
The University of California Los Angeles' health system will pilot a system that introduces genomic data into its EHR platform. Click here to continue>>

Dr. Sanjay Khurana Helps Rescue Harrison Ford From Crashed Air Plane 
Sanjay Khurana, MD, a spine surgeon at DISC Sports & Spine Center in Marina Del Rey, Calif., helped save actor Harrison Ford's life yesterday; not with a surgical procedure, but by pulling him from a crashed air plane, according to a CBS Los Angeles report. Click here to continue>>

In-Office Ancillaries Under Attack — 5 Key Points
The in-office ancillary services exemption is under attack again, according to a report from Mondaq. Click here to continue>>to continue>>

Google, Twitter, Yahoo Among 3rd Parties Accessing HealthCare.gov Data
An analysis by congressional staffers revealed that Google, Twitter, Yahoo and Advertising.com are among the third parties receiving information from HealthCare.gov. Click here to continue>>