Researchers administered an anonymous 26-question questionnaire to 644 patients seeking treatment from a neurosurgeon or orthopedic spine surgeon at a single institution. Six questions asked the patient to rate specific spine surgeon selection and six were multiple choice asking patients about their preferences. Study authors found:
1. Both patients who selected orthopedic spine and those who selected neurosurgeons felt these three factors were the most important:
• Board certification
• In-network provider status
• Bedside manner
2. Almost all — 82.74 percent — of the neurosurgery patients and 48.81 percent of the orthopedic surgery patients said they preferred a surgeon trained in neurosurgery.
3. Patient autonomy is growing in the healthcare system, and surgeons may find it helpful to identify preferences in physician selection. “Board certification, in-network status and bedside manner may be the most influential factors for patients in spine surgeon selective irrespective of specialty,” concluded the study authors.
4. The study can provide a framework to improve patient recruitment and selection.
More articles on spine surgery:
Do spine surgeon demographics affect outcomes?
AAOS names Dr. Alan Hilibrand treasurer-elect: 5 things to know
40+ female orthopedic spine and neurospine surgeons in the US
At the Becker’s 32nd Annual Meeting: The Business and Operations of ASCs, taking place October 29-31 in Chicago, ASC leaders, surgeons and healthcare executives will explore strategies to drive growth, enhance operational performance, navigate reimbursement challenges and prepare for the future of ambulatory surgery. Apply for complimentary registration now.