James Mooney

I also think it's important to monitor the safety of these algorithms.

So having resources that are devoted to making sure these technologies are used safely and

So I think, you know, that's the number one area I'm following.

I think number two is the shift sort of from RVU based metrics towards value based care and specifically for spine surgery.

I think it's important to make sure the right surgeries are being done for the right patients and shifting from a RVU incentive based approach.

you know, set up where surgeons are compensated based on volume of surgery, you know, how do we shift things and to more of a patient-centered outcome?

And ultimately, you know, registries and health system analytics will help us progress towards that point where we're determining which patients are benefiting from which surgery and rewarding surgeons for their outcomes.

And then lastly, I think an area that's been of particular interest to me is

You know, the expansion of minimally invasive as well as patient specific technologies and precision medicine.

And for spine surgery in particular, the growth of ultra MIS surgery and endoscopic spine surgery, I think, is really interesting.

You know, it's one of those revolutions and they've been doing it in Asia for long periods of time.

But in the U.S., it's relatively new, but I think it's something that's here to stay.

And it's important for a center that provides spine care to be able to offer the full gamut of care ranging from, you know, the most minimally invasive approach with an endoscopic surgery to a big deformity correction.

And I think, you know, tailoring that surgery to the specific patient is incredibly important, and we can't lose sight of that.

And then the last thing is, you know, 3D printed implants and patient specific technologies, I also think are the future as well.

I haven't incorporated them yet, but that's something we're hoping to bring on as we grow at VCU.

Yeah, I mean, I think it's easy to talk about, but, you know, actually instituting it is a lot bigger of a challenge.

And so, you know, I'm right at the beginning of my career, and these are just things I've been following early on.

But I think it's going to take, you know, a massive overhaul, really, of the way things are set up currently, just given that we've been following the specific, you know, metrics and ways of compensating surgeons for years.

So, yeah.