Introduction The national health expenditure (NHE) is growing as a proportion of the United States gross domestic product (GDP). In 2015, NHE represented 17.8% of GDP and is expected to grow to 19.9% by 2025. In 2008, the Institute for…
Introduction In the past few decades, a growing number of clinical registries have been set up across specialties for various purposes. Owing to their ability to cover a large number of patients and provide real-world data, they have been increasingly…
Introduction Modern neurosurgical care is a complex, multidisciplinary enterprise, involving a broad consortium of providers and occurring in diverse settings, from preoperative clinics to postoperative rehabilitation facilities. Even so, the operating room (OR) remains the core of neurosurgery. Events in…
Introduction The clear, accurate, and effective exchange of clinical information has always played a central role in the delivery of health care. It remains one of the most critical events that allows for health care providers to be effective at…
The deepest sin against the human mind is to believe things without evidence. Thomas Huxley, English Biologist (1825–95) Introduction The fundamental assumption of evidence-based practice is that basing decisions in practice on best available evidence will maximize the likelihood of…
Surgery and health care, in general, depends on quality teamwork. Highly functioning teams are not born but are built. In high-functioning and effective teams, members have a shared understanding of purpose, the system(s) in which they are to function, and…
Health care expenditure has become one of the largest spending items for any nation. Specifically, in developed nations, health care expenditure is not only on the rise, but it is following an unsustainable trajectory. It was been well documented that…
Health Care Reform in the United States Measuring and improving the quality of surgical health care is an increasingly important goal in understanding the overall value, contribution, and impact surgical care has on the American Healthcare system. The current growth…
Over the past two plus decades, the entire landscape of healthcare has shifted and continues to evolve. More patients are receiving both care and increasingly complex treatments. The quality of care and the cost of that care have become significant…
Introduction Practicing neurosurgeons should be involved in a continuous, ongoing process of improving the results of their clinical interactions with patients. For the individual surgeon, this might include a process for self-improvement, such as continuing education or maintenance of certification.…