Endoscopic spine programs are popping up more and more, as the training for surgeons improves and hospital leaders are looking to invest.
Skepticism from surgeons for endoscopic spine procedures has decreased over the past few years and patients are now actively seeking these procedures, leading to accelerated adoption.
These four leaders discussed how surgeons, administrators and patients are driving the increased adoption of endoscopic spine procedures at Becker’s 23rd Annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management-Driven ASC + The Future of Spine Conference in Chicago.
Editor’s Note: Responses were lightly edited for clarity and length.
Question: What is driving the acceleration of interest in endoscopic spine right now? Where do you still see some skepticism?
Ben Burch, MD. Spine Surgeon of Atlanta Spine Institute: The most important point is the shift, at least that I’ve seen in the last four years, and how administrators and the business side of what we do view endoscopy. In the last four years, in my area, we’ve rolled it out at several different hospital systems and ASCs. I’ve noticed, especially when it comes to an investment in this technology, we’ve had a shifting landscape in how patients are demanding it. So I think the hospitals, and even at the ASC level, they’re looking at this as not only an investment to bring a new type of surgery, but it’s going to be an investment in marketing because patients are demanding it and we’re actually seeing patients coming across state lines to seek it. So I think those are points that have changed over the last four years.
Patrick Kim, MD. Neurosurgeon and Assistant Professor, Neurosurgery of USF Health (Tampa, Fla.): I certainly agree with the acceleration. I think we’re going through that mass adoption phase of endoscopy that orthopedics and general surgery went through in the 1990s. Skepticism sometimes comes from the surgeon’s side, not the administrator’s side because of the learning curve. But our tools are better than ever before and there are more training opportunities available than before. That certainly adds to the acceleration, and I think there is less skepticism than before.
Ryan Sauber, MD. Orthopedic Surgeon, Allegheny Health Network (Pittsburgh): This is that perfect storm moment for endoscopy. The trainees are all demanding it. Certainly that’s one of the more and more popular questions we’re seeing on the interview trail is, ‘What’s the exposure to endoscopy?’ That’s all the way from residents to fellows to early career surgeons. I think the patients are demanding it too. Fusion’s never been more of a bad word in my community than it is right now. Patients are getting educated and they’re seeing websites that all offer information about endoscopic surgery, which is quite alluring to a lot of patients and administrators. There’s also this arms race feeling as well, that if you don’t have endoscopy, you’re left behind. That if you don’t get in right now, you’ll be two, three, five years behind your competition. So all those things come together at the exact same moment and it leads to a lot of excitement.
Xiaofei Zhou, MD. Associate Program Director and Neurosurgeon of University Hospitals (Cleveland): I introduced endoscopic spine into my institution about a year and a half ago, so I’m living through how to introduce this to your system. One of the things that I see from the perspective of my administrators is that they see every other hospital acquiring endoscopic spine, and so the acceleration is just keeping pace. It’s because everyone else is doing it. If you don’t, you’re kind of left behind. So institutions are actively seeking endoscopic spine surgeons to grow their market and to keep pace with everybody else.
In terms of the skepticism, I think there may be some from the administrative side because there are obviously coding and billing issues, but in order to attract the patients to stay within your system now, it’s a must. You have to have it as part of your repertoire.
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.
