Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for Feb. 11, 2016.
How much do neurosurgeons make in 2016?
A neurosurgeon's median salary totals $393,339, according to payscale.com data. The top 10 percent of neurosurgeons make a salary around $750,000. Neurosurgeons with zero years to five years of experience make a median salary of $323,000, and neurosurgeons with more than 20 years of experience make a median salary of $488,000.
Society of Neurological Surgeons names Dr. Ralph Dacey president
Ralph G. Dacey Jr., MD, was named president of the Society of Neurological Surgeons. Dr. Dacey is the Henry G. and Edith R. Schwartz Professor and chairman of the department of neurological surgery at Washington University in St. Louis. He completed his neurosurgery residency at the University of Virginia in Charlottesville.
Surgical tech sues Yale-New Haven Hospital surgeon after OR altercation
A surgical technician is suing the surgeon who allegedly hit him in the operating room during a 2014 pediatric brain surgery. The surgical technician claims the head surgeon elbowed him multiple times and hit him while performing surgery on a seven-year-old patient. The surgical technician filed a lawsuit on Feb. 5 claiming discrimination — he is black — and reporting the surgeon verbally assaulted and threatened other minority workers.
Age affects cervical spine surgery outcomes & cost, says new study
A new study published in Spine examines how age affects cervical spondylotic myelopathy treatment. There were more comorbidities for the 65 years and older patients — 0.79 compared with 0.44 comorbidity indicies — and the total complication rate was higher. The older patients also had a higher cost of care than the younger patients.
Most U.S. physicians prefer small practices
A majority of physicians practiced in small medical practices comprised of two to 10 physicians in 2014. Around 17.2 percent of surveyed physicians worked in solo practices. Around 28.4 percent reported providing care in large medical practices, with 51 or more physicians.
Stryker buys Synergetics' neuro portfolio, 2nd acquisition of the month
Stryker plans to acquire Synergetics USA's neuro portfolio. Stryker is purchasing all assets from Synergetics' neuro portfolio in an all-cash transaction. The neuro portfolio includes the Malis generator, Spetzler Malis disposable forceps and Stryker's existing Sonopet tips and RF generator.
Various barriers stop medical providers from achieving population health
The top five barriers to population health include: issues with IT, tracking and management systems along with other internal systems; treat of financial loss from moving to a new payment model; providers not knowing when to make the transition; changing organizational culture difficulties; and physicians who don't buy-in to the organization's changes.
Number of osteopathic physicians increases by 62% in last 10 years
In 12 states, the number of osteopathic physicians has more than doubled in the past decade, according to the 2015 Report on the Osteopathic Medical Profession. Rural and underserved areas received new osteopathic medical schools in the past years. The report found one of four entering medical students attends an osteopathic medical school.