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Current Issue Articles
Which ASC Model is Best- Equipped to Deliver Spine Surgery: Multi- Specialty or Spine-Focused
ASC executives and back specialists say that spine surgery is the last, great, untapped frontier — the final medical specialty and potential ASC business line remaining relatively unexploited.
3 Core Models for Delivering Anesthesia Services — Trends, Legal Issues and Observations
This article briefly describes three different methods of delivering anesthesia services. Then, it discusses a few legal issues related to anesthesia services. Finally, it provides several different observations related to trends in anesthesia services.
ASCs in 2009: 14 Quick Observations; Improving ASC Profitability in a Down Economy — 7th Annual Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management Driven ASC Conference; Discounts Available — Must Register by May 1
Gerald Alexander, MD — Dr. Alexander is an orthopedic surgeon, specializing in disorders of the spine, who practices at Fullerton (Calif.) Orthopaedic Surgery and Fullerton Surgery Center. Dr. Alexander attended medical school and completed his orthopedic surgery residency at Loma Linda (Calif.) University. He completed a fellowship in spine surgery at UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.
5 Best Practices to Help Address Increasing Patient Out-of-Pocket Expenses
The number of Americans enrolled in health plans with high deductibles is on the rise and is expected to continue as employers look for ways to cut costs in this tough economy. This trend creates challenges for ASCs and hospitals as they begin to see more and more patients who are responsible for significant out-of-pocket expenses for treatment.
Brian J. Cole, MD, MBA — Dr. Brian Cole is a professor in the department of orthopedics with a conjoint appointment in the department of anatomy and cell biology at Rush University Medical Center in Chicago. He is the section head of the cartilage research program at Rush University Medical Center and the Cartilage Restoration Center at Rush, a multidisciplinary program specializing in the restoration of articular cartilage and meniscal deficiency. He also serves as the head of the orthopedic Master’s program and trains residents and fellows in sports medicine. Dr. Cole is the team physician for the Chicago Bulls basketball team, and co-team physician for the Chicago White Sox baseball team and DePaul University in Chicago.
4 Great Growth Opportunities for Orthopedics in Surgery Centers
In spite of the current state of the economy, with many companies downsizing and cutting services, there are still some opportunities out there for businesses. This is true for orthopedics in surgery centers.
5 Best Practices for Improved Coding of Orthopedic and Spinal Procedures
The reporting of orthopedic, spinal and pain management procedures continue to provide challenges for many ASCs regardless of whether the coder is a novice or a seasoned veteran. Below are five best practices to help ensure your facility captures reimbursement opportunities while adhering to coding guidelines.
Adopting Bylaws That Address Disruptive Physicians: Q & A with Tom Stallings of McGuireWoods
Thomas J. Stallings, JD, a leading legal expert on medical staff issues and partner at McGuideWoods, discusses medical staff issues of concern for surgery centers and hospitals, and offers his suggestions for dealing with these challenges.
10 Interesting Statistics and Facts About Pain Management in Surgery Centers
Here are 10 interesting stats and facts about pain management in ASCs. 1. Pain management was fourth among identified specialties represented at single-specialty centers, tied with orthopedics, and was represented in 5 percent of all single-specialty ASCs.
Growing Pain Management Through Diversification, Expansion and Marketing
Although pain management practices have recently faced considerable reimbursement challenges, ASCs can take steps to overcome these challenges by focusing on growing services and patient volume.
6 Best Practices for Maximizing Efficiency in Pain Management
Here are six best practices for maximizing efficiencies in pain management, according to industry leaders and owners of pain management ASCs across the country.
Practical Guidance to Help You Understand and Plan for On-Call Coverage Payments
Adequate on-call emergency coverage is a real issue for hospital emergency departments and inpatients requiring urgent specialist consultation. Sullivan Cotter’s 2008 Physician On-Call Pay Survey Report states that 85 percent of survey respondents have experienced difficulty finding physicians to provide on-call coverage. The problem has been so severe in some instances that 16 percent of respondents reported the discontinuation of service lines due to lack of call coverage; these specialties included neurosurgery, orthopedic surgery, urology, obstetrics/gynecology and vascular surgery. These statistics help support and explain the recent, growing trend in providing payments for on-call coverage.
