The American Society of Pain and Neuroscience on Oct. 2 called for a national minimally invasive spine credential that ties a physician’s scope of practice to demonstrated competence rather than the specialty in which the physician trained.
In a position statement, the multidisciplinary society said percutaneous fixation, endoscopic decompression, basivertebral nerve ablation, sacroiliac fusion and other emerging spine procedures are advancing faster than residency and fellowship curricula can adapt. That gap applies to surgical and nonsurgical specialties alike.
ASPN warned that standards written by predominantly surgical organizations risk judging newer percutaneous therapies through frameworks built for conventional open surgery. The society also said terms such as “minimally invasive,” “percutaneous” and “endoscopic” describe technique, not risk, and should not determine who is qualified.
The proposed credential, to be developed by multispecialty consensus, would rest on seven competency domains, including anatomy and biomechanics, patient selection, complication management and radiation safety. Requirements would scale with each procedure’s risk, including implant placement, reversibility and the structures at hazard. Prerequisites could differ by specialty, but every physician would have to meet the same final standard. Physicians would also need documented, prearranged complication management plans, including in office-based settings.
ASPN cited neuroendovascular surgery as a model. In that field, the Society of Neurological Surgeons’ Committee on Advanced Subspecialty Training accredits fellowships open to neurosurgeons, neurologists and radiologists.
ASPN President Krishnan Chakravarthy, MD, PhD, and Chairman of the Board Timothy Deer, MD, are among the statement’s signatories. The Society of Women Innovators in Pain Management and the Sierra Spine Society endorsed it.
ASPN already runs a 12-month, procedure-specific Minimally Invasive Spine and Neuromodulation certification. It has committed to publishing its full curriculum and case minimums, building an outcomes registry tied to certification, and helping convene a multisociety accrediting body.
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.
