A neurosurgery practice is more than a conduit for delivery of excellent neurosurgical care. It is a business that must remain cost-effective or perish. Quality decision-making, regardless of whether one is a physician, a business administrator, or both, depends upon access to reliable data.
For too long neurosurgery has suffered from a data disability. The sad fact is that entities with which a practice frequently negotiates, such as health insurance plans, frequently come to the table armed with data about neurosurgeons and neurosurgery practices, leaving a practice with little ground to stand on during contract discussions. Perhaps worse, without reliable data a practice is unable to accurately gauge its own performance. For how many businesses would “We don’t know” be an acceptable response to the question, “How are we doing?”
Change is underway. In July, NERVES, the Neurosurgery Executive Resource, Values, and Education Society, launched its first socioeconomic survey in what will be an annual effort to arm neurosurgery with the data it so desperately needs.
The NERVES Neurosurgery Practice Annual Survey
The NERVES Neurosurgery Practice Annual Survey was painstakingly developed over the past year to ensure an instrument that will provide the data needed and pass the compliance requirements of the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Department of Justice. Before distribution, the survey’s readiness for distribution was reviewed and assured by NERVES legal counsel.
Two principles guided the NERVES Board in development of the survey. First, the information must be gathered in a completely legal and ethical manner. Second, the instrument must be as simple and easy as possible to complete.
Legalities and Ethics This first principle has influenced the nature of the information to be gathered, how the information is gathered, how the information is compiled, and who will have access to the raw data. Only information that is at least three months old and permitted by the FTC will be gathered. A third party-Heaton and Eadie, an Indianapolis consulting and accounting firm-is gathering and interpreting the information. Survey results will be reported in aggregate form, and no individual or practice-specific information will be reported. Finally, only employees of Heaton and Eadie will have access to the raw data, ensuring the privacy and confidentiality of respondents.
Simplicity and Ease of Use This second principle is equally important. For years, neurosurgery practices largely have ignored other organizations’ surveys, reportedly because of the complexity of those surveys and consequently the time it took to gather and report the information requested. In contrast, the NERVES survey, while comprehensive, has been designed so that whether responses to all or only some of the questions are given, the information still will count. Survey participants will be able to compare survey results to the information they gathered for submission. While it will take time to gather information and complete the NERVES survey, it will be time very well invested.
What’s Covered The survey gathers data for accounts receivable, provider compensation and production, support staffing, and operating costs, as well as general issues pertaining to practice. Demographics including practice type and size and geographic region will be analyzed. In addition to neurosurgery, related specialties-neurology, physiatry, radiology, and anesthesia-each are included in separate area of the questionnaire.
Taking the Survey
The survey and instructions for completing it are being sent via e-mail to participants, who will record their answers and send the completed survey by return e-mail to Heaton and Eadie. The e-mail format is expected to save expense, facilitate data collection, and make the survey results available quickly. After the data is compiled, the NERVES Board and legal counsel will conduct a final review. The board’s plan is to publish the survey results in September so that by the end of the year, those who participate can put reliable, valid information to use in 2005.
Who Will Participate?
Participation in the survey is open to all NERVES members; information on how to become a NERVES member is available at www.nervesadmin.com, or [email protected]. Survey participants will enjoy free access to the survey results, which will be available to others for a fee.
The business of neurosurgery will be changed by this effort. My plea to every neurosurgeon is that you will personally become involved and take advantage of this opportunity to make a positive impact on the future of your business. With participation from the greatest number of practices, we can overcome neurosurgery’s data disability and acquire the tools necessary to be competitive in today’s hostile medical environment. The time to act is now.
Mark Mason, [email protected], is president of NERVES and practice administrator at Neurological Surgeons PC in Nashville, Tenn.