Hear an Orthopedic Surgeon discuss collaboration, process improvement and cost effective care
In this episode, Rick Phillips, VP Advisory Services with HealthTrust talks to Dr. James Bruffey, Orthopedic Surgeon and Spine Care Service Line Medical Director, with Scripps Health in San Diego, California. This is a conversation about collaboration, process improvement, and commitment to cost effective care. Dr. Bruffey was integral in creating a formulary plan that included physician feedback, supplier input, and top-down health system support. Dr. Bruffey is a leader that believes physicians need to collaborate on value analysis and commit to the design and implementation of improved processes. We hope you enjoy this conversation.
- 0:56 – Introduction
- 2:23 – Comprehensive spine care process
- 5:54 – Process collaboration (clinical and supply chain)
- 10:19 – Implant formulary concept
- 12:33 – Physician-led supplier communication
- 14:36 – New technology process
- 15:56 – Value analysis description
- 17:34 – Process introduction timeline
- 19:35 – What does success look like?
- 22:52 – Value of care line directors
- 23:45 – COVID response
- 25:30 – Resuming elective care
- 26:30 – Patient communication
- 27:50 – Key advice and final thoughts
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Orthopedic, Spine Surgeon, Scripps Health
Orthopedic surgeon James Bruffey, MD, treats a variety of diseases and conditions of the musculoskeletal system and has expertise in lumbar and cervical disc herniation, adult spondylolisthesis and degenerative scoliosis, post-traumatic spinal conditions, spinal stenosis, cervical myelopathy and radiculopathy, adjacent segment disease after fusion, revision surgery and spinal fractures related to osteoporosis, tumor and trauma.
Additionally, his practice includes minimally invasive techniques for spine surgery, including neural decompression and spinal stabilization via fusion. Dr. Bruffey has a research focus on fusion outcomes in anterior lumbar spinal surgery, as well as neurologic monitoring and protection for lateral transpsoas-based surgical procedures. He also evaluates the effectiveness of specific spinal implants and instruments for fusion and neural decompression, in addition to providing training on surgical techniques.
He believes in providing the best surgical and non-surgical solutions for each patient’s spinal problems. He also understands the importance of spending the time to make sure patients fully understand their problems and symptoms, so they can make meaningful and well-informed choices in their care.
In his spare time he enjoys snowboarding, reading and spending time with his family.
