September / October 2019 Issue of Becker's Spine Review
ON THE COVER
Dr. Stephen Hochschuler: Future trends in spine – telemedicine, robotics, AI & more
Orthopedic spine surgeon Stephen Hochschuler, MD, is co-founder of Texas Back Institute in Plano and chairman of the Texas Back Institute Holdings Corporation.
Dr. Alok Sharan performs 100th awake spinal fusion — will this be the way of the future?
Alok Sharan, MD, co-director of the Westmed Spine Center in Yonkers, N.Y., began performing awake spinal fusions in 2017, and has just reached a milestone: 100 successful awake spinal fusions performed.
9 spine & neurosurgeons on the move in July
Here are nine spine and neurosurgeons who joined new practices in July.
Dr. Christopher Kager: The standout spine procedure in his career, future of biologics & more
Christopher Kager, MD, is a neurosurgeon with Lancaster (Pa.) NeuroScience & Spine Associates and chief, division of neurosurgery at Lancaster (Pa.) General Hospital of Lancaster General Health Physicians NeuroScience & Spine Associates.
Zimmer Biomet Q2 spine sales down 6.2% — 5 things to know
Zimmer Biomet reported a net sales decrease of 0.9 percent to $1.99 billion during the second quarter.
Beacon Orthopaedics takes on PE investor
Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine, a large orthopedic practice in Cincinnati, took on a private equity investor in July to spur future growth.
Humana expands spinal fusion bundles
Fifteen new orthopedic and spine practices are joining Humana's spinal fusion or total joint replacement bundled payment arrangement.
SPINE SURGEONS
Dr. William Richardson: The evolution of spine care technology and Duke’s new spine department strategy
William Richardson, MD, is a spine surgeon with Duke Spine Center in Durham, N.C.
Federal investigation ongoing in Sanford Health, spine surgeon over device use
Sioux Falls, S.D.-based Sanford Health will halt the use of medical devices sold by a company owned by one of its neurosurgeons while a federal investigation into their use is ongoing, reports Argus Leader.
20 best hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery
Here are the top 25 hospitals for neurology and neurosurgery, according to U.S News & World Report, 2018-19 Best Hospitals report.
Dr. Roger Frankel on the future of robotics in spine
Board-certified neurosurgeon Roger Frankel, MD, is president of Atlanta Brain and Spine Care and medical director of the Piedmont Hospital Spine Center Quality Program in Atlanta.
5 new spine-focused ASCs
Here are five key concepts for success with spine-driven surgery centers.
What price transparency will do to spine – key thoughts from 5 surgeons
Value-based care and price transparency is on the forefront of physicians' and healthcare executives' minds, especially after President Donald Trump issued an executive order to require healthcare price disclosure.
Meet the head neurosurgeon for Elon Musk’s Neuralink, Dr. Matthew MacDougall
Tesla founder Elon Musk hired Matthew MacDougall, MD, a practicing neurosurgeon, to participate in a new project to develop a brain-computer interface technology and advance treatment for brain disorders, according to the Wall Street Journal.
Dr. Stephen Hochschuler: Future trends in spine – telemedicine, robotics, AI & more
Orthopedic spine surgeon Stephen Hochschuler, MD, is co-founder of Texas Back Institute in Plano and chairman of the Texas Back Institute Holdings Corporation.
Orthofix aims to have 150 surgeons trained in M6-C cervical disc this year
Since acquiring Spinal Kinetics in May 2018, Orthofix has been focused on rolling out the M6-C cervical disc.
Dr. Gregory Mallo joins Orlin & Cohen, leaves chief post at St. Charles Hospital
Orthopedic surgeon Gregory C. Mallo, MD, is leaving his position as chief of St. Charles Hospital's shoulder service to join Northwell Health affiliate Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group.
Former Laser Spine Institute chairman of surgery lands at Colorado practice — 4 insights
Former Laser Spine Institute surgery chairman Michael Weiss, MD, PhD, joined Lone Tree, Colo.-based SpineOne.
Dr. Alok Sharan performs 100th awake spinal fusion — will this be the way of the future?
Alok Sharan, MD, co-director of the Westmed Spine Center in Yonkers, N.Y., began performing awake spinal fusions in 2017, and has just reached a milestone: 100 successful awake spinal fusions performed.
Medtronic aims to take share of the robotics market now and moving forward
For the first quarter of the 2020 fiscal year, Medtronic reported 1.5 percent revenue increase.
4 recent device company mergers & acquisitions
Here are four spine and orthopedic company transactions in the past month.
How Dr. Peter Ullrich built Titan Spine — 5 takeaways
Titan Spine President and CEO Peter Ullrich, MD, built the company to address an unmet need for spinal fusion surgery, according to Wisconsin radio station WUWM 89.7 FM.
14 recent spine, neurosurgeons on the move
Here are 14 spine and neurosurgeons who joined new practices in August.
Dr. Jason Huang: What big data could do for spine + the most interesting new technology
Jason Huang, MD, is chair of the department of neurosurgery at Baylor Scott & White Medical Center in Temple, Texas.
CNS names winners of Neurosurgery’s 2019 Top Paper
The Congress of Neurological Surgeons unveiled the winners of the 3rd Annual Paper of the Year awards, for papers published in Neurosurgery, reports Newswise.
Alabama orthopedic practice pays $1.2M to settle billing, self-referral allegations: 5 details
Baldwin Bone & Joint in Daphne, Ala., settled a whistleblower lawsuit alleging it violated the False Claims Act and Stark Law.
Dr. Gregory Lekovic: Emerging technology in spine and the reimbursement headwind to watch
Gregory Lekovic, MD, is the medical director of the spine surgery program at California Hospital and Medical Center as well as a surgeon with House Clinic in Los Angeles.
The potential for 3D robotics in spine + key thoughts on new technology from Dr. Dale Horne
Dale Horne, MD, a Cincinnati-based neurosurgeon, began using spinal robotic technology in 2007 and hasn't looked back.
Trends in spine to watch from Dr. Ashutosh Pradhan — lumbar disc replacement, practice demographics and cost control
Ashutosh Pradhan, MD, is the chief of neurosurgery at Ascension St. Vincent's Riverside, a 528-bed hospital based in Jacksonville, Fla.
At the cutting edge of spine — Key thoughts from Dr. Kevin Foley on technology, big data and more
Kevin Foley, MD, is the chairman of Semmes Murphey Clinic and director of complex spine surgery at Semmes Murphey in Memphis, Tenn.
Phoenix hospital network expands spine, orthopedic services — 4 insights
Scottsdale, Ariz.-based HonorHealth is bolstering its hospital network in north Phoenix, reports Globe St.
Medtronic plans to launch product rivaling Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci: 3 insights
Medtronic has a product in the pipeline that will directly compete with Intuitive Surgical's da Vinci system, Seeking Alpha reports.
Zimmer Biomet’s endoscopic treatment for pediatric scoliosis gains FDA approval
The Tether, Zimmer Biomet's anterior vertebral body tethering treatment for pediatric scoliosis, received FDA approval.
Large orthopedic practices could fetch 10x EBITDA — 4 insights into PE investment
Private equity investment in the orthopedic space is increasing, and analysts think there's still a way to go, according to Mergermarket's exploration of the topic for Forbes.
Dr. Robert Gewirtz: AI in spine, changing patient populations and the future of outpatient procedures
Robert Gewirtz, MD, is a fellowship-trained neurosurgeon with Mount Carmel Central Ohio Neurological Surgeons in Westerville.
5 plead guilty in $80M healthcare fraud scheme: 8 things to know
Five individuals who practiced at and operated a New York pain facility pleaded guilty in a six-year, $80 million healthcare fraud scheme, according to the Times Herald-Record.
DEVICES & IMPLANTS
Omar Ishrak to retire as Medtronic CEO in 2020, Geoff Martha to succeed him
Medtronic Chairman and CEO Omar Ishrak plans to retire as CEO at the end of the 2020 fiscal year.
Former Stryker, NuVasive execs join Alphatec
Alphatec appointed three new executives to leadership roles as the company seeks to boost sales in the western market.
Neurosurgeon pleads not guilty to murder charges tied to 4 patient deaths
Santa Rosa, Calif.-based neurosurgeon Thomas Keller, MD, pleaded not guilty to second-degree murder charges for allegedly causing four patient deaths by overprescribing opioids from 2011 to 2017, according to The Press Democrat.
Dr. Christopher Kager: The standout spine procedure in his career, future of biologics & more
Christopher Kager, MD, is a neurosurgeon with Lancaster (Pa.) NeuroScience & Spine Associates and chief, division of neurosurgery at Lancaster (Pa.) General Hospital of Lancaster General Health Physicians NeuroScience & Spine Associates.
Johnson & Johnson looks to new spine technology, robotics after reporting 1.6% Q2 orthopedic sales drop
Johnson & Johnson reported orthopedic sales dropped 1.6 percent year-over-year during the second quarter to $2.2 billion.
RTI Surgical posts $82.3M in Q2 revenue: 6 things to know
RTI Surgical's worldwide revenues increased 16 percent from $70.7 million in the same period last year to $82.3 million in the second quarter of 2019.
How the spine field could change in the next few years: Q&A with Dr. Kee Kim of UC Davis
Kee Kim, MD, is chief of spinal neurosurgery at Sacramento-based UC Davis School of Medicine and co-director of the UC Davis Spine Center.
Zimmer Biomet Q2 spine sales down 6.2% — 5 things to know
Zimmer Biomet reported a net sales decrease of 0.9 percent to $1.99 billion during the second quarter.
NuVasive launches integrated technology platform to enhance spine surgery
NuVasive launched its Pulse system, which is designed to feature multiple technologies to assist surgeons in adopting more efficient and less disruptive surgical methods in spine procedures.
Dr. Mark Giovanini performs 100+ cases of robotic SI joint fusion in the ASC – now he wants to spread his method
Mark Giovanini, MD, is a neurosurgeon with NeuroMicroSpine, a Pensacola, Fla.-based spine practice focused on minimally invasive spinal procedures.
Physician-managed Altair Health opens spine ASC — 3 insights
Morristown, N.J.-based Altair Health opened a 16,000-square-foot ASC devoted to spine care and pain management procedures in Florham Park, N.J.
How NuVasive CEO views competition in the US spinal robotics market
NuVasive has traditionally focused technology on spinal instrumentation, implants and procedures with the XLIF, LessRay and other technologies.
Zimmer Biomet’s endoscopic treatment for pediatric scoliosis gains FDA approval
The Tether, Zimmer Biomet's anterior vertebral body tethering treatment for pediatric scoliosis, received FDA approval.
Osseus picks up SIJ Surgical in 1st acquisition: 4 details
Osseus Fusion Systems, a Dallas-based medical device company focused on spine products, acquired SIJ Surgical.
Dr. Roger Härtl: The development of robotics and future trends in spine
Roger Hartl, MD, is a professor of neurological surgery and director of spine surgery at Weill Cornell Medicine in New York City.
Stryker reorganizes leadership team after key departure — 4 insights
Stryker expanded the roles of two of its employees after Stuart Simpson, president of joint replacement, left the company.
Ohio clinic using biologic treatments
Fairlawn, Ohio-based Crystal Clinic Orthopaedic Center is using biologic therapies to treat anterior cruciate ligament and joint-related injuries.
Arizona orthopedic practice aims to grow after 4 surgeons depart
Four orthopedic surgeons left Northern Arizona Orthopaedics when it joined Northern Arizona Healthcare, which also manages Flagstaff Medical Center, earlier this summer, according to the Arizona Daily Sun.
Laser Spine Institute co-founders now owe ex-business partner $300M+, judge rules
A circuit judge raised the award Laserscopic Spinal Centers of America co-founder Joe Samuel Bailey will receive from the remaining assets of the now-closed Laser Spine Institute, Florida Record reports.
NuVasive introduces porous titanium spine implant for TLIF procedure
NuVasive launched Modulus TLIF-A, a porous titanium spine implant for use in transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion procedures.
Dr. Saqib Hasan joins Western Orthopedics
Oakland-based Webster Orthopedics added Saqib Hasan, MD, to its surgical staff.
PRACTICE MANAGEMENT
Top 20 hospitals for orthopedics, by US News
U.S. News & World Report published its Best Hospitals for Orthopedics 2019-20 rankings, with Hospital for Special Surgery ranking No. 1 for the 10th consecutive year.
AAOS will be ‘closely evaluating’ how Trump’s executive order affects orthopedics
In late June, President Donald Trump issued an executive order intended to lower costs and help patients make informed decisions by increasing price transparency in healthcare.
Hospital for Special Surgery Sports Medicine Institute expands to west Manhattan — 3 insights
New York City-based Hospital for Special Surgery Sports Medicine Institute is opening a new facility in west Manhattan.
California hospital to end orthopedic services amid financial constraints: 5 things to know
King City, Calif.-based Mee Memorial Healthcare, a critical access hospital, has eliminated orthopedic services due to financial difficulties.
Cincinnati orthopedic group takes on PE investor, launches management services organization: 4 details
Cincinnati-based Beacon Orthopaedics and Sports Medicine launched a national management services organization in partnership with private equity firm Revelstoke Capital Partners.
Oregon medical group to acquire 14-physician orthopedic practice — 3 things to know
Pendleton, Ore.-based Praxis Medical Group will acquire Desert Orthopedics of Bend, Ore., according to The Bulletin.
Humana expands total joint, spinal fusion bundles to 15 practices
Fifteen new orthopedic and spine practices are joining Humana's spinal fusion or total joint replacement bundled payment arrangement.
Cleveland Clinic delays plans for $30M Florida neurosciences center after finalizing merger — 4 insights
The Cleveland Clinic pushed back plans to build a $30 million Neuroscience Center of Excellence near Port St. Lucie, Fla.-based Tradition Hospital, until after it finalizes its absorption of Martin Health, the TCPalm reports.
Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group acquires 10-physician orthopedic practice in New York: 4 notes
Merrick, N.Y.-based Orlin & Cohen Orthopedic Group acquired Long Island Bone & Joint.
PE firm invests in Connecticut orthopedic, spine practice: 5 details
New York-based private equity firm Kohlberg & Company invested in Greenwich, Conn.-based Orthopaedic Neurosurgery Specialists, a three-location multispecialty group.
Orthopedic practice partners with HOPCo to establish new Florida care network
Jacksonville, Fla.-based Southeast Orthopedic Specialists and Phoenix-based Healthcare Outcomes Performance Company partnered to form HOPCo Southeast Specialty Care Network.
Rush names orthopedic building after longtime Rush physician and his wife — 4 insights
Chicago-based Rush University Medical Center renamed its orthopedic building the Sofija and Jorge O. Galante Orthopedic Building.
OUTPATIENT SURGERY
CMS may add total knee replacements to ASC covered procedures list for 2020, up payment rates
CMS released its 2020 outpatient and ASC prospective payment system proposed rule, ushering in several changes for ASCs and hospital outpatient departments.
CVS to launch pilot program for Aetna beneficiaries undergoing total knee replacement surgery
CVS plans to launch a pilot program this summer to help Aetna knee replacement surgery patients with care before and after their procedures, an Aetna spokesperson confirmed to Becker's ASC Review.
Physician-owned microhospital opens in Oklahoma — 3 details
Tulsa (Okla.) ER and Hospital, a physician-owned micro-hospital, is opening its doors to patients July 29, according to local news station ABC 8 Tulsa.
Minnesota Hospital Association challenges Blue Cross policy shifting services to ASCs
The Minnesota Hospital Association is accusing Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota of breaking the law through policies that limit access to colonoscopies and other services in hospitals in favor of having them in lower-cost settings, like ASCs, according to a letter from the association cited by the Minneapolis StarTribune.
Delaware pain physician indicted in $12.7M Medicare fraud scheme: 4 details
The Department of Justice unsealed an indictment against a Wilmington, Del.-based pain physician for allegedly participating in a scheme to defraud Medicare of millions of dollars.
Optum adds new partnership model to outpatient strategy with latest healthsystem deal - 3 insights
Eden Prairie, Minn.-based Optum has broken from its pattern of acquiring physician practices, outpatient clinics, urgent care facilities and surgery centers with plans to take over John Muir Health's non-clinical functions, according to Forbes contributor Bruce Japsen.
2nd cyberattack at Maryland surgery center affects more than 2,000 patients
Palisades Eye Surgery Center in Bethesda, Md., was hit by a data breach, according to the HHS Office for Civil Rights.
Surgical company seeks $15M investments for 10 closed surgery centers
Worldwide Surgical Solutions, a company that designs and builds surgical facilities, is seeking investors for 10 surgery centers in Texas that have closed down, according to CEO James Hamilton.
The 5 states most & least likely to face a physician shortage
States in the West and South may be more likely to face a physician shortage than those on the East Coast, according to a survey by the Senior List cited by Merritt Hawkins.
HEALTHCARE NEWS
US News’ Best Hospitals 2019-20 Honor Roll
U.S. News & World Report released its Best Hospitals rankings for 2019-20 on July 30.
Second Ben Taub patient found dead in bathroom
A patient was found dead in a bathroom at Houston-based Ben Taub Hospital's emergency department in April, according to a CMS report made public July 23 and cited by the Houston Chronicle.
Texas hospital abruptly closes
Van Zandt Regional Medical Center in Grand Saline, Texas, closed Aug. 5.
Patient data from EHR vendors found for sale online
Google Chrome and Mozilla Firefox browser extensions were used to extract and sell users' personal information from more than 50 companies, including EHR providers DrChrono and Kareo, according to the Washington Post.
Florida hospital attributes spike in lawsuits against patients to EHR conversion
Bayfront Health St. Petersburg (Fla.) sued more patients after switching from a nonprofit to a for-profit organization.
Patient waited 20 hours to receive urgent test, surgery at Pennsylvania hospital
A patient ill with a condition that can cause loss of a testicle had to wait nearly a day to undergo testing and surgery at Penn State Milton S. Hershey (Pa.) Medical Center, according to PennLive.com.
Trinity Health sues medical group, challenges noncompete clauses
Livonia, Mich.-based Trinity Health filed a federal lawsuit against Anesthesia Associates of Ann Arbor (Mich.) on July 23, alleging the medical group's non-compete clauses could threaten operations at six of Trinity's hospitals, according to Bloomberg Law.