Centura Health’s Dr. William Choi Discharged the Most Medicare Patients with Spine Conditions in Colorado, Treating Over 450 Cases

In Spine

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By: Saparja Nag Apr. 10, 2018

Dexur analysts studied Colorado physicians who performed operations on the spine between January 2013 and December 2016 and found that Dr. William Choi outperformed any other physician in the state treating almost 100 more inpatient cases than the 2nd highest discharging physician. He led the state with 453 discharges, which was 92 more than the 2nd ranked Dr. Paul Stanton with 361 discharges. Dr. Roger D. Sung and Dr. Robert J. Benz joined Dr. Choi and Dr. Stanton as the only four physicians in the state to have operated on over 300 inpatients for conditions of the spine. Dr. Sung saw 333 Medicare inpatients, while Dr. Benz treated 324 during the same four-year time period. Dr. Hans C. Coester ranked 5th in the state with 290 spinal operations.

This analysis focused on the top 50 highest volume spine physicians in the state, the lowest of which discharged 62 inpatients. Discharge volume is a key quality metric utilized to determine which physicians are more experienced in particular conditions. The spinal discipline includes 19 different DRGs that vary from spinal fusions, cervical spinal fusions, and other neck/back procedures. Other quality metrics however, such as length of stay and readmission rates, are analyzed at the DRG-level as the specific diagnosis-related group is often the most significant factor in determining the LOS and rate of readmission.

Dr. William Choi practiced primarily at two Centura Health campuses, Castle Rock Adventist Hospital and Porter Adventist Hospital. Between 2013 - 2016, he performed the most DRG-460 (Spinal Fusion Except Cervical without Major Complication or Comorbidity) procedures in the state with 293 Medicare inpatient discharges. The top 5 DRG-460 discharging physicians were among the top 10 overall spine discharging, as DRG-460 discharges make up the majority of spinal discharges. Dr. Benz, who ranked 4th overall, ranked 2nd in DRG-460 volume with 192 discharges. Dr. Biggs performed 178 DRG-460 procedures, ranking him 3rd in the state during the time period. Ranking 4th for DRG-460 discharge volume with 175 discharges was Dr. Coester, who ranked 5th overall. Finally, Dr. Stanton ranked 5th in DRG-469 with 153 discharges.

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Top 10 physicians by total spine discharge volume including DRG-460 discharge volume, average LOS, and readmission rate

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Saparja Nag

Saparja is a healthcare journalist with a particular interest in how medicine can and should affect health policy. She has extensive experience as a health educator and research scientist in biochemistry. She also enjoys running, cooking elaborate meals, and then eating elaborate meals. Saparja received a Bachelors of Arts in Biochemistry from Vassar College.