A new course from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons (AANS) promises practice management aid for neurosurgeons who, to their consternation, find that for creating a thriving practice in today’s complex medical environment, an MBA degree would be a welcome addition to their MD.
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Stan Pelofsky, MD, and Samuel J. Hassenbusch, MD, PhD, codirectors of the Neurosurgeon as CEO: The Business of Neurosurgery course that debuts Sept. 18, understand the feeling.
“As neurosurgeons we studied and trained from five to seven years after medical school to learn how to perform a variety of delicate and technically skillful procedures directed at saving or improving people’s lives, but most of us got precious little beyond friendly advice on how to run a complicated, high stakes business and be successful doing it,” said Dr. Pelofsky. “Anyone in our profession today knows that that is not enough. That’s why Sam and I decided to put our heads together and come up with a course that would cut to the chase, both from the perspective of someone in private practice as I am and from the viewpoint of someone in academic practice as he is, and show exactly how to run a practice as a successful business.”
Dr. Hassenbusch agreed: “Neurosurgeons are used to always being prepared, but few of us can say we were ready for navigating today’s labyrinth of governmental regulations or negotiating the coding quagmire in order to get paid for our services,” he said. “For Sept. 18 we’ve planned an innovative program, unlike any other course offered, that will cover creative, ‘outside-the-box’ concepts and models in a straightforward, no-nonsense fashion intended to help ensure our colleagues’ professional survival and increase their financial success.”
Dr. Pelofsky and Dr. Hassenbusch each bring unique experience to the course. Dr. Pelofsky, a past president of the AANS, was a driving force behind the development of a neuroscience specialty hospital in Oklahoma City; he is in private practice with Neuroscience Specialists. Dr. Hassenbusch, of M.D. Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, is co-chair of the AANS/CNS Coding and Reimbursement Committee.
Also lending their expertise to the course are James I. Ausman, MD, editor of Surgical Neurology, Rancho Mirage, Calif.; James R. Bean, MD, AANS treasurer, who is in private practice with Neurosurgical Associates, Lexington, Ky.; and Patrick J. Kelly, MD, of New York University Medical Center, New York, N.Y.
In reflection of the faculty’s broad experience and each faculty member’s particular expertise, the topics addressed include the practice of neurosurgery both at present and in the future, surviving and succeeding in academia, creating a neurosurgical specialty hospital, coding and reimbursement, integrated neurosurgical delivery systems, and the effect of accounting and financials on the bottom line. Ample time for answering attendees’ questions is built into the format.
“This interactive course promises to be a fresh and frank review of practice management realities and opportunities today,” said Joni L. Shulman, AANS associate executive director-education. “Even though the Neurosurgeon as CEO tackles the most sophisticated concepts in the quest for practice management success, the course also is suitable for anyone involved in practice management, from the neurosurgical resident just getting started to the seasoned neurosurgeon.” Course attendees will learn how to:
- apply “outside the box” thinking that leads to discovery of creative and innovative new revenue streams;
- analyze issues in building a practice, increasing business and adding employees, partners, physician extenders;
- minimize and avoid liability, as well handle skyrocketing overhead costs in patient care;
- enhance practice performance through optimal management and increased productivity while facing current healthcare challenges; and
- improve the bottom line by applying creative business paradigms in patient care.
Attendees can receive up to 7.25 category 1 continuing medical education credits toward the American Medical Association’s Physician’s Recognition Award.
The Neurosurgeon as CEO: The Business of Neurosurgery takes place at the New York Marriott East Side, New York, N.Y., on Saturday, Sept. 18. “The early response to this course has been overwhelmingly positive,” said Shulman. “Our tenative plan is to offer the course again next year, if not sooner.”
Manda J. Seaver is staff editor of the Bulletin.