Spine robot vendors are pivoting strategy to attract ASCs

Editor's Note

While hospitals and health systems may be willing to invest in spine robots, many of them are reconsidering the expense due to the increasing pace of outpatient surgery migration, Becker’s ASC Review April 26 reports. This is causing spine robot companies to pivot their strategy to become more attractive to ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs).

ASCs “operate on fine margins, and as spine robots offer minimal value to experienced surgeons, they are considered cost prohibitive in surgery centers,” Becker’s noted. A spine robot might cost around the $1 million mark, which some hospitals and health systems will fork up to “attract surgeons and patients.” However, hospitals and health systems are starting to not see the return on investment in such a move anymore because “they expect to lose so many elective spine surgery cases over the next five years to ASCs and expect very little cases to be done” at their facilities,” Vladimir Sinkov, MD, of Sinkov Spine Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, told Becker's.

And ASCs generally “don't have the resources or capital” to invest on a robot “when the surgeries can be performed without them, so device companies are now developing robots with this in mind,” Becker’s highlighted. Changes include designing smaller and more cost-effective robots and “developing new business models to help sell or lease” robots to ASCs.

Spinal procedures being performed at ASCs is a rising trend, as OR Manager reported in its January 2022 issue. View the article here for strategies and important considerations on migrating this service line to the outpatient setting.