Dr. O’Shea received her medical degree at the State University of New York Upstate Health Center in Syracuse. While completing her neurosurgical training and residency at the Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City, she became involved in groundbreaking surgical treatments for the care of patients suffering from spinal cancers and complex spinal disorders.
After publishing several papers in this area and finishing neurosurgical training, she wished to further study spine surgery from the orthopedic viewpoint. She was accepted into and completed an additional orthopedic spine surgery fellowship under the direction of Michael Neuwirth, MD, at the Hospital for Joint Disease and the Spine Institute of Beth Israel Medical Center, both located in New York City.
Dr. O’Shea gave a presentation titled “How to Achieve Great Results for Spine/Neurosurgery in an ASC” at the 9th Annual Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference in 2011. Dr. O’Shea said she decided to take her spine cases to an ASC because she was frustrated with the inefficiencies in the hospital and she realized the cost reduction potential of utilizing an ASC. At ASCs, surgeons are in control of the facilities, surgical fees and implants they are able to use, she said.
She predicted that at least 80 percent of practicing spine and neurosurgeons are able to perform their cases in the ASC, whether they are currently doing so or not. Not every surgeon is suited for the switch — ASC surgeons must perform quick surgeries, be confident in their surgical ability and have a good support team, Dr. O’Shea said. She is also careful to select the appropriate patients for cases in the ASC and always provides preoperative planning for the patients so they know what to expect at the surgery center.
