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March Coding Webinar Recording

Thank you for joining us on March 27th for the NERVES 2024 Coding Updates webinar and many thanks to The Coding Network’s Jeremy Clark for his presentation. If you would like to rewatch this webinar, or if you weren’t able to join us, please see the link and passcode below with the presentation slides attached. 

 
Webinar Recording
Webinar Handouts
 
Webinar recording passcode: NERVESCode24!

NERVES Ballot of Nominees for Officers 2024-2025

The NERVES Nominating Committee would like to submit the following ballot of nominees for your consideration and support. Final voting by the membership will be during our Annual Business meeting set for Thursday, May 2nd at the Loews Chicago Hotel. 

Officers 

     
 

President / CSNS Liaison
Jacob Rodman, CMPE, MBA
Raleigh Neurosurgical Clinic

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Welcome New NERVES Members!

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

  • Rose Castanola, Brain and Spine Institute of San Antonio, Live Oak, TX
  • Marlyn Grice, OUHSC Department of Neurosurgery, Oklahoma City, OK
  • Lilian Le, UT Southwestern Medical Center Neurological Surgery, Dallas, TX
  • Alicia O'Gilbert, UTHealth Houston, Houston, TX

Southeast

  • Michelle DuJardin, Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital, St. Petersburg, FL
  • Hailey Lundquist, Carolina Neurosurgery and Spine Associates, Greensboro, NC
  • Melissa Redick, Norton Neuroscience Institute, Louisville, KY

Northeast

  • Theresa Berry, Hartford Healthcare Medical Group, Clinton, CT
  • Jack Cowell, Brigham and Women's Hospital Neurosurgery, Wrentham, MA
  • Lyndsey Gill, Princeton Brain, Spine and Sports Medicine, New Egypt, NJ
  • Jillian Hinckley, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Malden, MA
  • Mary Moakes, Main Line HealthCare, Phoenixville, PA
  • John O'Neill, Neurological Surgery, NYC, NY

North/Midwest

  • Joseph Chabot, Medical College Physicians-Harbor Town Campus, De Pere, WI
  • Sophie Church, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO
  • Alexander Cmil, Neurosurgery One, Littleton, CO
  • Jessica Cotter, Mayfield Brain & Spine, Cincinnati, OH
  • Lindsay Finton, Mayfield Brain & Spine, Cincinnati, OH
  • Jeanette Linebaugh, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO
  • Hallie McCluskey, Kettering Health Brain and Spine, Miamisburg, OH
  • Cara McInerney, Ascension Illinois, Oak Brook, IL

Partner Profile: Brian Asmussen

During the 2023 NERVES Annual Meeting in San Diego, NERVES Secretary Antoine Curtis took time to interview Brian Asmussen, MBA, FACHE, Senior Director, Global UNiD Lab & Customer Engagement | intelligent Data Solutions (iDS), of Medtronic.

During their brief conversation, Antoine asks Brian about his history in neurosurgery and NERVES, pulls out a few fun facts and ask Brian to discuss the value of being a NERVES Annual Partner. Click on the thumbnail below to watch Brian's video profile.

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NERVES Spring Committee Reports

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 Committee Report, the Education Committee Report, the Membership Committee Report, the Survey Committee Report, and the Washington Liaison Report.

CSNS Committee Report

By Derek Cantrell, CSNS Liaison

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Member Profile: Donna Bailer

During the 2023 NERVES Annual Meeting in San Diego, NERVES Secretary Antoine Curtis took time to interview Immediate Past President Donna Bailer, JD, LLM. Donna is the Executive Administrator - Department of Neurosurgery, University of Alabama at Birmingham (“UAB”) School of Medicine.

During their brief conversation, Antoine asks Donna about her history in the organization, the value of being a member of NERVES and her advice for current and future neurosurgery practice leaders. Click on the thumbnail below to watch Donna's video profile.

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Mitigating Loss in CPT Coding: Strategies for Healthcare Systems

By Nicola Hawkinson, DNP, RN, RNFA, CPC

Accurate Current Procedural Terminology® (CPT) coding is not only essential for financial stability but also directly impacts patient care. Healthcare systems face significant financial losses due to coding errors. According to recent data, hospitals across the country lose approximately $262 billion per year due to denied claims from insurers, leading to cash-flow issues and recovery costs. Additionally, an estimated 9% of hospital charges are denied annually, putting nearly $5 million per hospital at risk.

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Survey Finds Travel Clinicians and Locum Tenens Providers are 17% Happier Than Permanent Peers

By Barton Associates

Every day across the United States, travel healthcare clinicians and locum tenens providers take temporary assignments in hospitals and other facilities to bridge staffing gaps and ensure continuity of patient care. Due to the nomadic nature of their work, these healthcare professionals offer a unique perspective on the industry than those who work traditional, permanent jobs at health facilities.

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Spring 2024 President's Letter

Dear NERVES Members,

I hope all is well with you. It is sunny and 64 degrees today in Indianapolis. Not bad for March! Let’s hope spring is truly here and this isn’t just a tease. Along with spring flowers and a better mood overall - it is time for our Annual Meeting!

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Four Proven Ways to Improve Surgical Profitability with TDABC and Benchmarking

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.”

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Partner Profile: SpineSearch

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.

Fall 2023 President's Letter

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!

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"Tis The Season”: Prepping for Your 2024 Physician Hire

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.

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Welcome New NERVES Members!

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

NERVES Fall Committee Reports

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

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Summer 2023 President's Letter

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!).

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Welcome New NERVES Members!

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

Summer 2023 Member Spotlight

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

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NERVES Committee Reports

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

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Vendor Spotlight: Avant-garde Health

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