8
Capital equipment
costs
What equipment is
required for minimally invasive
spine? You'll need a table and
frame (Jackson or Jackson-type
table and a Wilson frame), micro-
scope, MIS equipment and imag-
ing options (C-arm, navigation or
robotics). A 2014 study in the
Journal of Neurosurgery found
that three-dimensional fluoroscop-
ic image guidance systems
demonstrated significantly higher
pedicle screw placement accuracy
than conventional fluoroscopy or
2D fluoroscopic image guidance methods.
Most minimally invasive spine surgery is performed with microscop-
ic visualization. Microscopes cost a quarter of a million dollars, and as
spine complexity increases, prices also increase dramatically. In addi-
tion to equipment, there are implants, biologics and a hard-working,
but expensive, staff. You can't hire just anybody and get the quality
and efficiency you want. So we're constantly working with vendors to
contain costs without compromising any of our goals.
9
Large range of patients
Our patients come from all walks of life. We have uninsured
hardship cases, and patients who fly in on private jets.
Everyone gets the same surgery, the same care and the same course.
With most, it's normal aging or wear and tear on the spine. However,
N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 7 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y. N E T • 5 9
• JOB ONE Quality is a never-ending pursuit, says Dr. Bray:
"We typically have 4 or 5 quality studies going at any given
time."
