ECRI Institute Fills Gaps in Evidence about Cost and Effectiveness of Bone Graft Substitutes

PLYMOUTH MEETING, Pa., Sept. 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- There are probably enough different types of bone graft substitutes to fill a warehouse—if that warehouse were constantly expanding. So where do value analysis committees and orthopedic, trauma, and neurosurgeons even begin when it's time to select new products or standardize their existing product portfolio?

ECRI Institute's upcoming webinar, "Choosing Bone Graft Substitutes: Filling the Gaps on Evidence and Pricing," on Wednesday, September 24, 2014 (1:00 – 2:30 p.m. ET), will help hospitals understand the landscape and the different categories and clinical uses of each product category so they can narrow their focus to identify the most clinically appropriate, effective, and best-priced bone substitute products in today's crowded, billion-dollar market.

When it comes to bone substitutes, hospitals need to consider the clinical, cost, safety, and regulatory issues of these products before they make their choices. And unlike the abundant supply of bone graft substitute products themselves, that information can sometimes be scant.

"Hospitals will learn how to use unbiased, evidence-based research to determine if a new bone graft substitute product will truly help reduce costs and improve patient outcomes. Those are the goals that value analysis committees zero in on, and our expert resources can help them save time reaching them," says Diane Robertson, director, health technology assessment information service, ECRI Institute.

The objectives of this webinar are to help participants:

• Understand the clinical evidence, cost and safety data, regulatory issues, and clinical equivalence for specific products
• Categorize the clinical function of bone graft substitutes
• Recognize off-label uses of bone graft substitutes
• Achieve product standardization and work closer with the surgeons who request these products
• Learn about market share

Subject matter experts in ECRI Institute's health technology assessment and supply price benchmarking programs will review the clinical evidence on today's most popular bone graft substitute products and provide tips and advice on how to proceed with selecting products based on evidence and pricing data.

"Transparency in pricing for medical supplies and implants, such as bone graft substitutes, is sorely needed, especially when clinical function directly influences cost. In lieu of that, the average pricing data that we provide to value analysis committees and clinicians makes them better prepared to negotiate with vendors," says Timothy Browne, director, PriceGuide advisory service, ECRI Institute.

Speakers:

• David Snyder, PhD, Senior Research Analyst and Manager, Hotline Responses, Health Technology Assessment Information Service, ECRI Institute
• Tim Browne, Director, PriceGuide Advisory Service, ECRI Institute

Moderator:

• Elke Nelson, PhD, Implementation and Member Support Manager, Health Technology Assessment Information Service, ECRI Institute

This webinar is intended for value analysis committee members with orthopedic and spine product oversight, and clinical trauma teams. The interactive format of ECRI Institute's webinar will provide ample time to interact with the panel during the Q&A session and also encourages participation.

To learn more, or to register for this webinar, visit www.ecri.org/bonesubstitutes or contact ECRI Institute by telephone at (610) 825-6000, ext. 5889; by e-mail at [email protected]; by fax at (610) 834-0240; or by mail at 5200 Butler Pike, Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462-1298, USA. ECRI Institute also offers free resources in our free eNewsletters.

Social Sharing
—September 24th webinar from @ECRI_Institute will address bone graft substitute selection ly.ecri.org/QCp9URT
—Webinar announced #EINews: "Choosing Bone Graft Substitutes: Filling the Gaps on Evidence and Pricing" @ECRI_Institute ly.ecri.org/QCp9URT

About ECRI Institute
​ECRI Institute (www.ecri.org), a nonprofit organization, dedicates itself to bringing the discipline of applied scientific research to healthcare to discover which medical procedures, devices, drugs, and processes enable improved patient care. As pioneers in this science for more than 45 years, ECRI Institute marries experience and independence with the objectivity of evidence-based research. Strict conflict-of-interest guidelines promote objectivity. ECRI Institute is designated an Evidence-based Practice Center by the U.S. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. ECRI Institute PSO is listed as a federally certified Patient Safety Organization by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. ECRI Institute developed and implements the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Reporting System, a mandatory error and near-miss reporting program for Pennsylvania hospitals and other healthcare facilities, under contract to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, winner of the 2006 John M. Eisenberg Award. Find ECRI Institute on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ECRIInstitute) and on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ECRI_Institute).

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SOURCE ECRI Institute