What’s Next for SI Joint Fusion? 8 Spine Surgeon Insights

Sacroiliac joint fusion continues to develop with new technology and recognition from payers. Here is how eight spine surgeons expect the procedure to develop in the near future. Question: What developments do you think will come next for sacroiliac joint fusion in 2023? Brian Fiani, DO. Mendelson Kornblum Orthopedic & Spine Specialists (Livonia, Mich.): The future is bright … Read More

10 Power Players in GI

  From gastroenterology management organizations to big-name practices to gastroenterology device manufacturers, here are 10 power players in the GI space poised to make waves in the industry in 2023. 1. United Digestive: Atlanta-based management services organization United Digestive services major practices throughout Georgia and Florida, most recently acquiring the Gastroenterology Group of Naples and Gulfshore Endoscopy … Read More

Clinical Challenges: Treating Breast Cancer in the ‘Very Old’

Should a woman with breast cancer undergo aggressive treatment if she’s age 85, 90, or even older? Specialists say the answer may be yes, depending on the patient’s health status and personal wishes. “If she’s a well person, there’s no reason to hold back treating her cancer,” said Heather Macdonald, MD, medical director of the … Read More

Late-Stage Melanoma: Experimental Drug Combo Puts 50% of Patients Into Remission

Melanoma is a kind of skin cancer. While it has a 99% survival rate in its early stages, stage IV melanoma — when cancer has spread to organs such as the lungs — has a survival rate of 30%. Drugs known as immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have improved the outlook for many people with melanoma. ICIs prevent … Read More

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas

Dear Neighbor, As the New Year approaches, I am filled with a sense of gratitude for the relationship Hoag holds with our community. Your trust in us pushes us to be better every day. Not just to adopt the most advanced technologies and procedures, but also to help create them. Your unwavering support during an … Read More

Hoag Launches Phase 1 Study That May Change the Face of Cancer Treatment

Hoag Memorial Hospital Presbyterian in Newport Beach, Orange County, California, will be the first in Southern California (and only one of a handful of trial sites worldwide) to launch a Phase 1 clinical trial to test the efficacy of a new cancer treatment that may change the face of cancer treatment. Led by Dr. Gary … Read More

What’s the Difference Between Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia?

If you notice a loved one becoming forgetful, you may worry that they have Alzheimer’s disease or dementia. But these conditions are not the same, says Dr. Aaron Ritter, a dementia expert who directs the Memory & Cognitive Disorders Program at Hoag Hospital. “Alzheimer’s Disease is a disease that causes a group of symptoms that usually … Read More

Spine Surgeons Predict ‘Tremendous Growth’ in Endoscopy Over the Next 10 Years

Despite pushback from payers and some reimbursement and training obstacles, many spine surgeons expect endoscopic spine surgery to become more prominent in the U.S. over the next decade.  Eleven spine surgeons from independent practices and health systems across the country discuss what’s next for endoscopic spine surgery. Question: How will endoscopic spine surgery evolve in … Read More