Here are seven things for spine surgeons to know for Thursday, May 23, 2013. BMP in lumbar fusions may bring shorter hospital stays, lower infection rates.
New research has found that the use of bone morphogenic proteins in anterior and posterior lumbar fusions was linked with shorter hospital stays, lower infection rates and greater in-hospital costs. Steven Fineberg, MD, presented the study at the International Society for the Study of Lumbar Spine Meeting.
Globus Medical is suing Johnson & Johnson for patent infringement.
Globus Medical filed suit against Johnson & Johnson this week for patent infringement. Globus alleges the DePuy Synthes Zero-P VA spinal implant infringes on its patent for an intervertebral fusion implant. Globus is demanding Synthes recall and destroy any patent infringing devices.
Dr. Eric Woodard will participate in FDA trial of spinal cord injury treatment.
Eric Woodard, MD, board-certified neurosurgeon and chief medical officer of InVivo Therapeutics, will participate in an FDA trial of InVivo's implantable scaffold device for treatment of spinal cord injuries. Dr. Woodard will implant the biodegradable device, which is designed to stabilize spinal cord injuries within six weeks and then dissolve, in the spinal cords of five patients.
Medtronic to eliminate 2k jobs worldwide.
Minneapolis-based Medtronic announced it will cut approximately 500 jobs at its Minnesota facilities and 2,000 jobs worldwide. About half of the cuts will be to the U.S. workforce, and about two thirds of the layoffs have already taken place.
More than 50% of physicians, 80% of hospitals have adopted EHRs.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that HHS has met and exceeded its goal for 50 percent of physician offices and 80 percent of eligible hospitals to have electronic health records by the end of 2013. A CDC survey released in 2012 showed that only 17 percent of physicians were using an advanced EHR system in 2008, and 9 percent of hospitals had adopted EHRs in 2008. As of April 2013, more than 291,000 eligible professionals and more than 3,800 eligible hospitals have received incentive payments from the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.
Medtronic gains in 4Q, loses spine revenue.
Medtronic's fourth quarter total reported revenue was $4.46 billion, up 3.8 percent from last year's $4.3 billion, though global spine revenue dipped slightly. The company reported a 1 percent drop in fourth quarter global spine revenue, from $818 million in 2012 to $811 million.
Drs. Martin Gryfinski, Raymond Hwang launched a spine program at Kishwaukee Community Hospital.
Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb, Ill., announced the launch of the Spine Center, a new program offering patients comprehensive spine care. Martin Gryfinski, MD, board-certified neurosurgeon, and Raymond Hwang, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon, developed the hospital's new program.
More Articles on Spine:
6 Spine Surgeons on Mobile Technology Enhancing Patient Care
Facing the Challenges of Healthcare Spending & Patient Care: Q&A With Dr. Kenneth Hansraj of New York Spine Surgery & Rehabilitation Medicine
15 Spine Surgeons Focused on Lumbar & Cervical Disc Replacement
New research has found that the use of bone morphogenic proteins in anterior and posterior lumbar fusions was linked with shorter hospital stays, lower infection rates and greater in-hospital costs. Steven Fineberg, MD, presented the study at the International Society for the Study of Lumbar Spine Meeting.
Globus Medical is suing Johnson & Johnson for patent infringement.
Globus Medical filed suit against Johnson & Johnson this week for patent infringement. Globus alleges the DePuy Synthes Zero-P VA spinal implant infringes on its patent for an intervertebral fusion implant. Globus is demanding Synthes recall and destroy any patent infringing devices.
Dr. Eric Woodard will participate in FDA trial of spinal cord injury treatment.
Eric Woodard, MD, board-certified neurosurgeon and chief medical officer of InVivo Therapeutics, will participate in an FDA trial of InVivo's implantable scaffold device for treatment of spinal cord injuries. Dr. Woodard will implant the biodegradable device, which is designed to stabilize spinal cord injuries within six weeks and then dissolve, in the spinal cords of five patients.
Medtronic to eliminate 2k jobs worldwide.
Minneapolis-based Medtronic announced it will cut approximately 500 jobs at its Minnesota facilities and 2,000 jobs worldwide. About half of the cuts will be to the U.S. workforce, and about two thirds of the layoffs have already taken place.
More than 50% of physicians, 80% of hospitals have adopted EHRs.
HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius announced that HHS has met and exceeded its goal for 50 percent of physician offices and 80 percent of eligible hospitals to have electronic health records by the end of 2013. A CDC survey released in 2012 showed that only 17 percent of physicians were using an advanced EHR system in 2008, and 9 percent of hospitals had adopted EHRs in 2008. As of April 2013, more than 291,000 eligible professionals and more than 3,800 eligible hospitals have received incentive payments from the Medicare and Medicaid EHR Incentive Programs.
Medtronic gains in 4Q, loses spine revenue.
Medtronic's fourth quarter total reported revenue was $4.46 billion, up 3.8 percent from last year's $4.3 billion, though global spine revenue dipped slightly. The company reported a 1 percent drop in fourth quarter global spine revenue, from $818 million in 2012 to $811 million.
Drs. Martin Gryfinski, Raymond Hwang launched a spine program at Kishwaukee Community Hospital.
Kishwaukee Community Hospital in DeKalb, Ill., announced the launch of the Spine Center, a new program offering patients comprehensive spine care. Martin Gryfinski, MD, board-certified neurosurgeon, and Raymond Hwang, MD, orthopedic spine surgeon, developed the hospital's new program.
More Articles on Spine:
6 Spine Surgeons on Mobile Technology Enhancing Patient Care
Facing the Challenges of Healthcare Spending & Patient Care: Q&A With Dr. Kenneth Hansraj of New York Spine Surgery & Rehabilitation Medicine
15 Spine Surgeons Focused on Lumbar & Cervical Disc Replacement