Chicago-based Northwestern Medicine has added new technology to support more complex procedures as part of its recently developed brain and pituitary tumor program.

A major cyberattack rocked the healthcare industry in February when Optum's Change Healthcare was hit by a ransomware gang that claims to have stolen massive amounts of patient data. 

A decade from now, one defining aspect of orthopedic surgery in 2024 will have been the speed at which new techniques are adopted, Neal ElAttrache, MD, said.

Here are 11 spine surgeons and physicians that hospitals, health systems and practices have added to their staff that Becker's has reported on since the start of 2024:

St. Charles, Ill.-based Genesis Orthopedics & Sports Medicine appointed Eric Witte as its next COO.

Brooklyn Nets guard and forward Ben Simmons had a microscopic partial discectomy, the team said March 14.

Leland, N.C.-based Brunswick Surgery Center is the first ASC in the U.S. to earn Orthopedic Center of Excellence designation in all four subspecialties from DNV.

Juan Ronderos, MD, joined South Baldwin Regional Medical Center in Foley, Ala., according to a March 14 announcement in Gulf Coast Media. 

Bioretec earned the FDA's breakthrough device designation for its RemeOs spinal interbody cage, the company said March 14.

Spine and orthopedic surgery remain as specialties that are majority white and male. 

Spinal fusions can be performed in ASCs or hospitals but there are different considerations when deciding the best setting for the procedure.

Ronald Navarro, MD, was appointed to the American Association of Latino Orthopaedic Surgeons board of directors.

Endoscopic spine surgery is a critical skill for every spine surgeon to have in their armamentarium or at least be familiar with. I was exposed to endoscopic spine surgery by chance in 2018 when I was a spine fellow interviewing for staff positions around the country. At one of my job interviews, an interviewer suggested that I should learn endoscopic spine surgery. I had no idea what he was talking about. When I got to my hotel room that evening, I looked up a video of endoscopic spine surgery on YouTube, and watched Dr. Albert Telfeian perform a lumbar microdiscectomy via a transforaminal approach. I was immediately sold!

From acquisitions to technology updates, here are five notable moves from Bethesda, Md.-based The Centers for Advanced Orthopaedics since 2020:

Here are 13 notable updates from Chesterfield-based OrthoVirginia since 2019:

If you'd like to read "MedPAC pushes Congress to require ASC cost data," click here.  Florida has been a hotspot for orthopedics in recent years, and the momentum isn't stopping anytime soon. The state benefits from its growing aging population and its tax-friendly stance, and multiple orthopedic groups are wanting a slice of the pie.

Durham, N.C.-based EmergeOrtho is one of the largest orthopedic practices in the state and the U.S.

From ongoing financial challenges to reimbursement pressures, Tallahassee (Fla.) Orthopedic Clinic CEO Michael Boblitz told Becker's three major trends he is keeping an eye on in 2024: 

Newport Beach, Calif.-based DISC Sports and Spine Center is expanding its hip program in Los Angeles through the addition of orthopedic surgeon and hip specialist Brett Shore, MD. 

Prescription weight loss medications, including Ozempic, stand to impact every facet of healthcare, including orthopedics.