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Current and Breaking News for Professionals, Consumers and Media |
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| Current and Breaking News for Professionals, Consumers and Media |
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In order to reduce costs and provide rightly deserved health care to all U.S. citizens, there is no doubt the healthcare industry needs to operate more efficiently and effectively, and modify some of its traditional practices. Doctors play a critical role in this process, and will need to change some of their current patient-care practices. One of the most effective and efficient emerging trends I've seen is that doctors are moving previously hospital-based surgeries and procedures into the office. This trend is positive for patients, physicians and the healthcare system. In-office procedures are more efficient and cost-effective than when needlessly performed in hospital operating rooms. Patients have less risk and shorter recovery than when placed under general anesthesia; physicians are able to do more in less time and utilize their staff in more efficient ways; and the healthcare system saves billions of dollars associated with the expense of hospital care. Just utilizing time efficiently has a significant impact in reducing costs. If a procedure is performed in an operating room it requires significantly more time from the doctor, including travel time, pre-op time, procedure time and post-op time. If the procedure is performed in the office, the pre-op time is done by staff. During this time the physician can be seeing other patients. Finally, the procedure can then take as little as a few minutes, while the post-procedure exam can then be done in the same room by the same staff. Additionally procedures performed in an operating room typically have higher medical costs associated with them and a higher potential for complications. Conceptus created the Essure permanent birth control procedure with patient comfort, safety, effectiveness and cost savings to the healthcare system as its primary goals. We knew that a permanent birth control procedure that could be performed in a doctor's office would offer several important advantages, and would be the catalyst in taking the OB/GYN into the office. We are proud to be the leaders in shifting the paradigm. Essure Makes a Case for In-Office Treatments The Essure procedure is a prime example of how doctors can save time and money for patients, insurance companies and the healthcare system as a whole. When compared to a traditional tubal ligation procedure, Essure offers a safe and effective alternative at a greatly reduced time and cost. Tubal ligations are performed in a hospital, require pre- and postoperative time, with multiple people involved — all requiring payment by insurance companies. Hospital materials, time and space are also expensive, and are normally billed to the patient’s insurance carrier with the patient paying their deductible. By contrast, the Essure procedure is performed in a physician's office, with minimal equipment and overhead. It also allows the doctor to see more patients and perform more procedures in a shorter amount of time. The procedure is performed in about 10 to 15 minutes, allowing the physician more time to see patients and, most importantly, increasing the ease and comfort of the patient with a comfortable setting and a quick recovery. Device Treatments Over Drug Prescriptions An additional trend that I see growing alongside in-office procedures is the use of device-based procedures versus drug-based treatments. With the rising cost of pharmaceuticals, physicians and insurance companies are becoming more inclined to endorse device-based procedures earlier on in the diagnosis and treatment process. This becomes an even more effective option when the doctor performs the procedure in their own office. For example, the cost of an Essure device (cost of device uninsured) is approximately $2,500, while oral contraceptives cost about $3 per day, or more than $1,000 per year. Beyond its significant cost advantages, Essure is also a more effective form of birth control than hormone-based oral contraceptives. With more doctors in fields such as urology, gynecology, and orthopedics recommending device-based procedures over drug prescriptions, there should be significant cost reductions in the healthcare industry. In the past doctors and their patients had a more direct and personal relationship, as the physician had more time with each of their patients. Unfortunately, rising costs of healthcare have caused the physician to lose that special bond and relationship with their patients. Now that the healthcare industry is looking at ways to cut costs and expand care, it seems fitting that we reinvest in this model, which allows doctors to see more patients, provide better care and counseling, and utilize their own office space more effectively. Mark Sieczkarek Bio President, Chief Executive Officer Conceptus, Inc. Mark Sieczkarek joined Conceptus in 2003 as president, chief executive officer and as a member of the company’s board of directors. Prior to joining, he was president of the Americas for Bausch and Lomb, Inc. He originally joined the company in 1995, and served as corporate vice president from 1999 to 2001. Sieczkarek held executive level finance positions with Bristol Myers-Squibb subsidiaries and Sanofi Diagnostics Pasteur from 1980 to 1993. Sieczkarek has a bachelor’s degree in accounting from the State University of New York at Buffalo, and a master’s degree in business administration from Canisius College. 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