The Intelligent Surgery Blog

Spine surgeries have been slower to transition to an outpatient setting because of their complexity. However, some spine procedures are now considered lower risk and safe for Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASC). 

Spine surgeons today face a much larger surgical burden than ever before. Case complexity and volume of surgeries are on the rise. Meanwhile, a changing healthcare system is rapidly reducing the amount of time available for surgeons to address these issues. Surgeons are expected to increase the number of surgeries they perform. This growing pressure may shorten the time available for preoperative planning.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is expected to save US Healthcare $150 billion annually by 2026. Connected technologies, preliminary diagnosis tools, and intelligent assistants are among the top ten drivers. For surgeons, AI-powered predictive analytics can help understand preoperative risk, increase efficiency, and improve patient outcomes. 

Being a spine surgeon requires the dedication, training, and focus of a professional athlete with significantly more at stake – patients’ lives. Spine surgery can be complex, and patient and surgeon training is a continuous learning process. Even experienced spine surgeons are constantly measuring, monitoring, and analyzing the results of each case and looking for ways to improve how they operate and educate. 

Spine surgeons across the United States are wondering how to manage their practice and caseloads amid lowered reimbursements. Even before the pandemic, the world of spine surgeries had been experiencing some seismic shifts, including:

1. Payment models evolving from the traditional fee-for-service, 
2. Growing patient demand for Minimally Invasive Surgeries (MIS), 
3. Rising expectations from patients for outpatient procedures that allow them to return to their daily lives faster. 

COVID-19 accelerated these trends.