Outpatient Spine

A spine surgeon's upcoming ASC and three more updates in the outpatient spine surgery space reported since June 1:

The Back Space, a chain of retail spine care clinics, revealed the location of five of its 10 locations planned in Walmart stores as of July 7.

Spine surgeon Chukwuka Okafor, MD, is opening a surgery center this year to capitalize on the accelerating trend of outpatient migration, The Ledger reported July 6.

Surgical site infections have negative clinical and financial consequences. Mitigating these infections to protect patients and ASC bottom lines must be a priority for physicians and surgical care teams.

Here are five fast facts on neurological surgery, based on the Merritt Hawkins physician revenue calculator and the 2020 Medscape physician compensation report:

The migration of more higher-acuity spine surgeries to the outpatient setting presents an opportunity for stakeholders and surgeons to realize significant profit in the coming years if that ASC is operated properly.

When hospitals paused elective surgeries and cut spending during the COVID-19 pandemic, some ASCs chose to invest in technology to facilitate growth.

Spine and total joint surgeries are among the highest-acuity procedures rapidly moving to the outpatient setting, representing a significant financial opportunity for ASCs.

Medtronic received FDA approval for its spinal cord stimulator, Vanta.

Scott Stayner, MD, PhD, in January performed Minnesota's first spinal fusion using the Minuteman Fusion Plate.