The Global Impact of COVID-19 on Neurosurgical Practice
The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly impacted medical practice across the globe. The effects are most notable in the fields of infectious disease, virology, emergency and critical care medicine, and epidemiology. Other medical specialties, including neurosurgery, however, are also impacted. To highlight the effect of the pandemic on the neurosurgery practice, the Journal of Neurosurgery Publishing […]
The Coronavirus Disease 2019 Global Pandemic: A Neurosurgical Treatment Algorithm
The COVID-19 pandemic is disrupting neurosurgical care at medical centers throughout the United States. Institutional and governmental recommendations are not specific to neurosurgery. Protocols are urgently needed to help neurosurgeons triage cases based on acuity, and also to minimize the risk of infection for both patients and peri-operative medical staff. In many academic tertiary care hospitals, […]
Cross Post – Death By 1,000 Clicks: Where Electronic Health Records Went Wrong
From time to time on Neurosurgery Blog, you will see us cross-posting or linking to items from other places when we believe they hit the mark on an issue. Today’s post highlights a report produced by Fortune Magazine and Kaiser Family Foundation. The report examines how, “the U.S. government claimed that turning American medical charts […]
Congress Gets to Work Following Historical Swearing-In Day for the 116th Congress
With the U.S. House of Representatives switching to Democratic control for the first time since 2010, and the Republicans gaining seats in the Senate, the voters in the 2018 midterm elections pulled the lever for divided government. While on election day it was more purple rain, than a blue wave, as more races were called, […]
Opioid Epidemic: What Families Should Know about Pediatric Post-operative Pain Control
Mirna Giordano (left), Assistant Professor of Pediatrics Columbia University Medical Center; Belinda Shao (middle), Research Assistant, Rutgers University; Richard C.E. Anderson (right), MD, FACS, FAAP, Associate Professor of Neurological Surgery Columbia University Medical Center. Beyond the anxiety associated with any neurosurgical procedure in our pediatric population, most children and their families are also concerned with […]
Animation: What’s a Pediatric Neurosurgeon?
Since Neurosurgery Blog has been putting a spotlight on all things pediatric neurosurgery, we wanted to take a moment to answer the following question: What’s a Pediatric Neurosurgeon? Featured below is an animation we developed which explains everything you need to know about these superheroes who care for the littlest of patients. We encourage everyone […]
Cross Post – Woman Regains ‘Quality Of Life’ With Spine Surgery
Misinformation regarding spine care in the U.S. is a significant hindrance to understanding the important issues surrounding the care of patients with spinal conditions. At some point in our lives, each and every one of us will experience back or neck pain. Thus, the issues surrounding spine care matter to us all. Neurosurgeons know that […]
MIPS, Cost Measures and Innovation from a Neurosurgical Perspective
Clemens M. Schirmer, MD, PhD, FAANS, FACS, FAHA Vice-Chair, AANS/CNS Communications and Public Relations Committee Geisinger Wilkes Barre, PA The Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA) is a law that reformed the Medicare payment system by repealing the sustainable growth rate formula (SGR), which calculated payment cuts for physicians. It also created […]
Cost Post – Impact of Insurance Precertification on Neurosurgery Practice and Health Care Delivery
Pre-authorization, prior authorization or precertification is a tool insurance companies use to limit the amount of services they provide for their customers. In essence, it’s a simple way to reduce costs by delaying or not approving planned, non-emergency (elective) surgery for patients who need it. The inefficiency and lack of transparency associated with prior authorization […]
Faces of Neurosurgery: Dr. Ann Stroink, a Tireless Advocate
Guest post from Kristopher T. Kimmell, MD (left) Neurosurgeon at North Kansas City Hospital/Meritas Health North Kansas City, MO Tyler Martin Schmidt, DO (middle) Neurosurgical Resident at University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester, NY Gabrielle Santangelo (right) Medical Student at University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester, NY Patients often face difficult decisions regarding their health, […]