Are Spine Surgeons Seeing Patient Volume Increase or Decrease?

Six spine surgeons discuss trends in patient volume at their practices. Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. We invite all spine surgeon and specialist responses. Next week's question is: How do you differentiate your practice from others in the area?

Please send responses to Laura Miller at laura@beckershealthcare.com by Tuesday, Feb. 21 at 5pm CST.

Q: Given the volatile healthcare environment, have you seen patient volume increase or decrease?

Dennis Crandall, MD (Medical Director, Sonoran Spine Center, Mesa, Ariz.): Our new patient visits are only slightly down, probably due to the fact that 50 percent of our practice consists of patients who have had prior surgery and are in considerable pain, have major deformity and patients who live outside our community. Our physical therapy unit has seen a slowdown, mostly due to the co-pay amounts that are hard for patients in this economy.

Ara Deukmedjian, MD (Founder, Deuk Spine Institute, Melbourne, Fla.): Decrease.

J. Brian Gill, MD (Spine Surgeon, Nebraska Spine Center, Omaha): My patient volume has actually increased.

Michael Gleiber, MD (Founder, Michael A. Gleiber, MD, PA, Jupiter, Fla.): My patient volume has slightly increased but patients are holding out on surgery until their insurance deductible has been met or simply putting surgery off due to inability to miss work.

Paul Slosar, MD (President, SpineCare Medical Group, San Francisco Spine Institute): We are down about the same percentage as inpatient hospital rates…+/- 20 percent compared to two years ago.  The economy downturn and unemployment/ underemployment are the most problematic issue regarding volume.

Brian Subach, MD (Director of Research and Spine Surgeon, Virginia Spine Institute, Reston): My patient volume has certainly decreased. In my current patients, I know that they are making decisions regarding physical therapy, injections and surgery based primarily on cost. People are continuing to live with treatable pain, because they quite simply cannot afford the treatment.