Jeffrey C. Clark, Partner, McGuireWoods LLP, Terry Woodbeck, CEO, FAHC, Tulsa Spine & Specialty Hospital and R. Blake Curd, MD, board chairman, Surgical Management Professionals, participated in a panel discussion titled "Q&A Panel: Will Evidence Based Medicine Kill Spine? Will Practice Acquisition by Hospitals Kill ASCs? Should ASCs Employ Physicians? Where are the Profits in Pain Management? Can Safe Harbors be Used to Redeem Physicians? Can Non-Competes be Enforced? Where do ASCs and Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Practices fit in ACOs?" at the 9th Annual Orthopedic, Spine and Pain Management-Driven ASC Conference in Chicago on June 9, 2011.
Evidence-based medicine is focused on finding the best route of care for patients at a reduced cost, but it often stifles innovation and a specialist's ability to provide care. There are several competing studies proving and disproving the efficacy of orthopedic and spine care, and guidelines written by physicians and insurance carriers are inconsistent. The outcomes of even the strongest studies aren't applicable for variations of surgeons, practices, geographic locations and patient physiologies.
Over the past several months, many orthopedic practices have been acquired by hospitals, and independent physicians are choosing to either join hospitals or partner with them to create surgery centers, driven by the uncertainty in the healthcare market. However, ASCs and outpatient surgery isn't going away and as the healthcare environment settles more surgeons are likely to take advantage of independent ASCs. Additionally, if employed surgeons saturate the system, hospitals will begin cutting physicians, who will likely move into the ASC setting.
The panel also discussed accountable care organizations. In theory, specialists will fit perfectly into the goals of ACOs, but the regulations will need to become more welcoming toward them. Provider participants in ACOS strive to maximize profits while payors work toward lowering the cost of care. Right now hospitals don't know which patients are in and which patients are out of the ACO program, which makes them weary of participation.
Related Articles on ACOs and Evidence-Based Medicine in Orthopedics:
6 Things to Know About Spine Surgeon Involvement in ACOs
6 Ways Evidence-Based Medicine Impacts Orthopedic and Spine Surgery
AAOS: Orthopedics Lacking in Level 1 Studies
Evidence-based medicine is focused on finding the best route of care for patients at a reduced cost, but it often stifles innovation and a specialist's ability to provide care. There are several competing studies proving and disproving the efficacy of orthopedic and spine care, and guidelines written by physicians and insurance carriers are inconsistent. The outcomes of even the strongest studies aren't applicable for variations of surgeons, practices, geographic locations and patient physiologies.
Over the past several months, many orthopedic practices have been acquired by hospitals, and independent physicians are choosing to either join hospitals or partner with them to create surgery centers, driven by the uncertainty in the healthcare market. However, ASCs and outpatient surgery isn't going away and as the healthcare environment settles more surgeons are likely to take advantage of independent ASCs. Additionally, if employed surgeons saturate the system, hospitals will begin cutting physicians, who will likely move into the ASC setting.
The panel also discussed accountable care organizations. In theory, specialists will fit perfectly into the goals of ACOs, but the regulations will need to become more welcoming toward them. Provider participants in ACOS strive to maximize profits while payors work toward lowering the cost of care. Right now hospitals don't know which patients are in and which patients are out of the ACO program, which makes them weary of participation.
Related Articles on ACOs and Evidence-Based Medicine in Orthopedics:
6 Things to Know About Spine Surgeon Involvement in ACOs
6 Ways Evidence-Based Medicine Impacts Orthopedic and Spine Surgery
AAOS: Orthopedics Lacking in Level 1 Studies