By Avant-garde Health

Hospitals’ Financial Challenges

As inflation persists and interest rates and labor costs continue to rise, US hospitals face increasing financial challenges. Meanwhile, reimbursement levels from public and private payers have yet to catch up with inflation, and payment delays and denials are growing, putting additional pressure on hospital revenue. As a consequence, some hospitals have been hit with credit downgrades or resorted to staff layoffs to stay afloat. According to the latest Kaufman Hall’s National Hospital Flash Report on a sample of 900 US hospitals, operating margins showed a sign of improvement in the last several months but they were sitting at “razor-thin, near-zero levels, putting hospitals in a vulnerable position should a recession or new public health emergency materialize.”

At NERVES conferences, we have consistently found a unique convergence of thought leadership, innovation, and collaboration within the neurosurgical community. This environment not only allows us to showcase our expertise but also fosters connections with like-minded professionals. These connections, forged through insightful discussions and collaborative endeavors, have been instrumental in expanding our network and reinforcing our position as a trusted partner in neurosurgery recruitment.

Partnering with NERVES aligns seamlessly with SpineSearch's mission to stay at the forefront of industry trends. The conferences provide us with unparalleled access to the latest advancements in neurosurgery and spine care, enabling us to refine our recruitment services to meet the evolving needs of healthcare organizations. Moreover, the emphasis on collaboration at NERVES aligns with our commitment to fostering meaningful connections that drive success for both job seekers and healthcare institutions.

In summary, our experiences with NERVES have been both enriching and instrumental in advancing SpineSearch's role in the neurosurgical community. We believe that deeper collaboration with NERVES will not only allow us to contribute to the growth and success of healthcare organizations but will also empower us to provide unparalleled support to neurosurgical professionals seeking new opportunities.

Dear NERVES Members,

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving holiday. Currently, it is a dreary 35 degrees and raining in Indianapolis, so I am playing Charlie Brown Christmas for a little holiday pick me up!

By Nicola Hawkinson, DNP, RN, RNFA , founder and CEO of SpineSearch, LLC

Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you are probably aware that there is a shortage of medical professionals across the United States. In particular, a shortage of doctors and nurses has been exacerbated by practitioners leaving the healthcare industry as a result of challenges faced during the pandemic.

Help us welcome our new members to NERVES! The Regional Directors representing the Southwest, Southeast, Northeast, and North/Midwest regions would like to personally welcome you to our great professional organization. We are excited you have decided to join us and look forward to getting to know you!

Southwest

• Ester Altiery-Carrero, Mischer Neuroscience Associates, Houston, TX
• Idania Delgado, Mischer Neuroscience Associates, Houston, TX
• Myrzy Lacayo, Mischer Neuroscience Associates, Houston, TX
• Carrie Parker-Clawson, Mischer Neuroscience Associates, Houston, TX
• Michelle Pavlas-Galan, Memorial Hermann, Mischer Neuroscience Associates, Houston, TX

Southeast

• Beth Buckley, Neurosurgery and Spine Specialists, LLC, Sarasota, FL
• Jamie Chyat, Premier Neurospine Institute, Tampa, FL
• Henry Costa, Carilion Clinic, Roanoke, VA
• Cameron Davis, Atrium Health, Carolinas Medical Center, Charlotte, NC
• Daniel Douthit, VCU Health, Richmond, VA
• Tonya Russell, Raleigh Neurosurgical.com, Raleigh, NC

Northeast

• Priscilla Harmon, White Plains Hospital, White Plains, NY
• Samantha Kelly, Atlantic Health System, Morristown, NJ
• Shayna Murphy, Brigham and Women's Department of Neurosurgery, Boston, MA
• Kimberly Rinehart, UPMC Neurological Institute, Leesport, PA
• Kevin Rudd, Thomas Jefferson Hospital (Neurosurgery), Cinnaminson, NJ
• Kevin Wolfe, Boston Children's Hospital - Neurosurgery, Boston, MA

North/Midwest

• Jordan Ballam, University of Utah Department of Neurosurgery, Salt Lake City, UT
• Gramos Pallaska, Michigan Head and Spine Institute, Southfield, MI
• Megan Petersen, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics, Solon, IA
• John Siemer, Mayfield Clinic, Inc., Cincinnati, OH
• Jordan Wirtz, UChicago Medicine, Darien, IL

To keep our membership informed of the activities and health of the association, we are posting our most recent collection of NERVES committee reports. In this issue you will find the Advisory Committee Report, the Annual Meeting Committee Report, the Communications Committee Report, the CSNS Committee Report, the Membership Committee Report, and the Survey Committee Report.

Advisory Committee Report

By Mary Amann, Advisory Committee Chair

Dear NERVES Members,

Greetings from Indianapolis! I am John Moeller and I started my term as NERVES President in April after our Annual Meeting. Luckly, I have had the pleasure of meeting many of you during my nearly 20 years of NERVES membership, but for those I have not met - I hope to meet you this next year! Quick background - I spent 18 years as the COO of Goodman Campbell Brain and Spine, and the last 3.5 years as the VP of Neuroscience for Ascension St Vincent Indiana. I have been married to Mary Jeanine ‘MJ’ for 20 years, and we have a 17 year old son, Peter, and a 13 year old daughter, Lucy. We have two golden retrievers, Ernie (7 yrs) and Birdy (12 weeks!).

Help us welcome our new members to NERVES! The Regional Directors representing the North/Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest Regions would like to personally welcome you to our great professional organization. We are excited you have decided to join us and look forward to getting to know you!

North/Midwest

• Barbara Bowman, NW Brain and Spine, BEND, OR
• Mackenzie Brewer, Olympia Orthopaedic Associates - The Spine Center, Olympia, WA
• Monique Carter, University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center Department of Neurological Surgery, University Heights, OH
• Lori Fugate, Vail Summit Orthopaedics and Neurosurgery, Edwards, CO
• Joselyn Howard, Indiana University Arnett Neurosurgery, Lafayette, IN
• Maida Imsirovic, Prevea Health Neurosurgery, Green Bay, WI
• Wendy Miller, CNOS, PC, Dakota Dunes, SD
• Iliana Rodriguez, University of Chicago Department of Neurological Surgery, Chicago, IL
• Lisa Santos, Great Lakes Neurosurgical Associates, Grand Rapids, MI
• Holly Sealer, Children's Hospital and Medical Center, Omaha, NE
• Jacinta Sharr, Anchorage Neurosurgical Associates, Inc., Anchorage, AK

Northeast

• Aimee Derry, Nuvance Health, Danbury, CT
• Tracey Dupree, Weill Cornell Dept of Neurological Surgery, Somerset, NJ
• Heather Smith, Penn Medicine Neurosurgery, Media, PA

Southeast

• Emily Lindsey, Raleigh Neurosurgical Clinic, Raleigh, NC
• Robin Maceiras, Brain and Spine Center of S. Florida, Delray, FL
• Kristen Prioleau, Medical University of South Carolina, College of Medicine, Department of Neurosurgery, Johns Island, SC
• Linda Reeves, Neurospinal Associates, Bradenton, FL
• Nathan Reid, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC

Southwest

• Omar Flamenco, UCSF Neurosurgery, San Francisco, CA
• Geoff White, UCLA Health, Westwood, CA

In an effort to enhance connection within the association, we are spotlighting different members of NERVES. In this issue of the NERVES Newsletter, we are featuring Craig Brubaker, PhD, Vice President | Neuroscience Institute, AdventHealth Florida.

Click on the Video Image to Meet Craig Brubaker

In an effort to keep our membership informed of the activities and health of the association, we are posting our most recent collection of NERVES committee reports. In this issue you will find the CSNS Liaison Update, Education Committee Report, the Membership Committee Report, and the Survey Committee Report.

CSNS Liaison Update

By Derek Cantrell, CSNS Liaison

We are honored to serve the NERVES community. Our partnership is truly collaborative - dedicated to the mutual benefits of the NERVES members and their patients, as well as the association itself. With highly aligned objectives focused on enhancing the quality and value of the business of neurosurgery, we are committed to helping NERVES members see opportunities for improvement they can’t see now.

Take a Closer Look at Avant-garde Health

In an effort to keep our membership informed of the activities and health of the association, we are posting our most recent collection of NERVES committee reports. In this issue you will find the Annual Meeting Committee report and the Council of State Neurosurgical Societies report.

Annual Meeting Committee Report

By John Moeller, Annual Meeting Committee Co-chair

We are honored to be part of the NERVES community. The leadership and members of NERVES are incredibly collaborative and are committed to improving the lives of neurosurgeons, neurologists, and the patients they see. We share a similar mission and love working with people who strive for excellence in everything they do. Working with everyone at NERVES and helping them accomplish their goals helps us grow and thrive.

In an effort to enhance connection within the association, we are spotlighting different members of NERVES. In this issue of the NERVES Newsletter, we are featuring Erica Gonzalez, administrative director for the Texas Brain & Spine Center.

Meet Erica Gonzalez

How long have you been a NERVES member?
I have been a member for about a year and half. I went to my first NERVES conference last year and loved every minute of it. I learned so much and I am looking forward to the one in April.

How long have you been in your current position? How did you get there?
I have been in this role since July 2021 but I have been with TBSI since 2008. I started out as a receptionist, then moved into the surgery scheduling role, eventually into an Administrative Assistant role, office manager and now, I am the Admin Director.

By Avant-guard Health

The results of the 2022 Single-Level PLIF/TLIF Performance Benchmark are complete. The summary below is based on nation-wide stats from more than 800 procedures coded as DRG 455/460 for inpatient cases or CPT 22630/22632 for outpatient cases.

Dear NERVES Members:

I’m getting excited about our upcoming Annual Meeting on April 19-21 in Marina del Rey, California (outside of Los Angeles). Please take a minute to register now and remember to book your hotel through the link provided by NERVES. We have a great speaker line-up thanks to the committee members who serve on the Annual Meeting Planning Committee. We also have wonderful, caring vendors coming to California to support us as well.

Help us welcome our new members to NERVES! The Regional Directors representing the North/Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, Southwest Regions would like to personally welcome you to our great professional organization. We are excited you have decided to join us and look forward to getting to know you!

Southwest

By Craig Parker, JD, CPA and CEO, Guideway Care

Neurology and neurosurgery administrators and providers are increasingly focused on social determinants of health (SDoH) and how they impact access, compliance with treatment plans and other health equity/social determinants for neuro patients. Given the growing focus on finding and addressing non-clinical patient issues from outside the clinical environment which can impact care, executives responsible and accountable for the operational and financial performance of neurology practice groups, surgery centers or other related care settings increasingly seek to identify and implement programs that specifically address these concerns.

Tamara Johnson, BSN, RN, CPHRM, RHIA
Program Director, Clinical Risk Management & Patient Safety—Curi Advisory

Burnout has become far too common among medical professionals. A recent claims case study from Curi outlines risk management recommendations for combatting this rapidly growing trend in healthcare.

In September, NERVES Board of Directors approved updated bylaws. The updates to the bylaws will allow for board discretion to permit inactive members to continue to hold society positions for the benefit of the society.  Additionally, it will allow for Regional Directors to keep their position for their reminder of their term if they move to a different region during their term. 

If you have questions or concerns about the current bylaws or have a governance question, please email us at [email protected].