Here three spine surgeons discuss whether small spine practice can still succeed in the face of increased hospital employment and consolidation.
Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. We invite all spine surgeon and specialist responses.
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Please send responses to Anuja Vaidya at avaidya@beckershealthcare.com by Wednesday, Jan. 27, at 5 p.m. CST.
Question: Is it still possible for smaller spine practices to thrive, or do these practices need to consider merging or turning to hospital employment?
Brian R. Gantwerker, MD, The Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: Not to sound too sheepish, but it depends. If you can stay efficient and provide excellent care and above-average results it should all work out. In certain markets, like some of the medium and bigger markets, it is quite difficult to resist the tidal wave. Surgeons who have boutique practices with excellent reputations and outcomes might be insulated, but I think no one is completely immune to the pressures to join.
Richard Kube, MD, Founder, CEO, Prairie Spine & Pain Institute, Peoria, Ill.: Small practices can thrive. It does take hard work, but small practices can be more nimble than large institutions. With a changing healthcare landscape, the ability to evolve is as important as ever, and as new trends come along, a small practice with motivated surgeons can adopt new strategies, clinical and economic, to stay ahead of the curve.
Amir Vokshoor, DISC Sports & Spine Center, Marina del Rey, Calif.: It depends on the market in which the practices are located. It is definitely possible if patient care and quality of delivery are at the center of the mission with adequate marketing and in collaboration with other healthcare facilities. However, there is clearly a trend of consolidation in hospital employment.