Achieving Neuroscience Excellence 2005
INTRODUCTION
In a challenging time for the neurosciences—rife with medical malpractice issues and a dwindling national supply of specialists and surgeons—NeuroSource set out for the second year to help define the characteristics of today's neuroscience center of excellence. The only U.S. company dedicated exclusively to partnering in the development of neuroscience and allied specialties, NeuroSource is uniquely positioned to research and explore excellence in the field.
Working in conjunction with HealthTech, a San Francisco-based non-profit healthcare research and education group that provides its members with forecasting tools, NeuroSource surveyed a nationwide list of neuroscience and hospital administrators. Responses were received from 115 hospital executives, the largest sampling of its kind in hospital-based neuro program research.
The goal of the Neuroscience Center of Excellence research is to provide data that benefits hospitals with a comparative framework to aid in strategic planning. In fact, each participating hospital receives a results-oriented "report card." Armed with these data, administrators can benchmark the characteristics of their program against others and begin to chart a course for change and continuous improvement.
Much of NeuroSource's work—including the Center of Excellence survey—is structured in a model that covers four areas that are critical to program success:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
» The NeuroSource and HealthTech Neuroscience Center of Excellence Survey was conducted on-line between December 2004 and March 2005 using an Internet-based research firm. Working in conjunction with HealthTech, a San Francisco-based non-profit research and education organization, NeuroSource surveyed a proprietary list of neuroscience and hospital administrators. Responses were received from 115 hospital executives, the largest sampling of its kind in hospital-based neuro program research. This analysis is the second such annual survey and report.
» The research profiles how hospitals structure neuro-related staffing, business and financial operations, clinical programs, as well as facilities and technology—all key elements in NeuroSource's Center of Excellence model.
» Respondents reported that the top challenges of their neuroscience program centered on finance and staffing, especially payer carveouts and recruitment.
» In terms of managing finances, 40 percent of respondents have separate, distinct, neuroscience profit and loss statements, compared to 27 percent who reported that last year.
» National initiatives to standardize stroke care are producing results. One in five respondents has received "Primary Stroke Center Certification," which recently became available via the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO).
» More than half of the respondents—51 percent—said at least one in four spine surgeries is performed outpatient, compared with 40 percent who reported that level last year. Nearly half of all respondents reported that they have an integrated spine program that incorporates multiple surgical and medical disciplines.
» The most widely applied neuro-technologies surveyed are: Cranial image guidance systems, 16-slice CT Scans, and perfusion/diffusion MRI.
» Among respondents, the Gamma Knife® remains the most common SRS technology in today's neuroscience programs followed in order by BrainLAB's Novalis® and Accuray's CyberKnife®.
» Also of note, newer SRS devices such as the Varian Trilogy™ are gaining ground. Almost as many respondents are "currently reviewing" the Trilogy as are reviewing Accuray's CyberKnife.
» Using NeuroSource's Neuroscience Staging Plan™ as a framework, survey results show that nearly half of the respondents operate a "Service Line" neuroscience program. These programs recognize neurological and neurosurgical care as a separate service line; they tend to treat advanced cases with newer but proven technologies. A small percentage achieved "Institute" level, characterized by the early adoption of technologies and a strong commitment to clinical research and subspecialization.
© 2006 NeuroSource Inc.