To Fuse or Not to Fuse (3 CE Clinical/Medical Error/Risk)

Instructor: Dr. Kaveh Khajavi, MD, FACS, FAANS

PART C – Understanding the boundaries of chiropractic care requires knowing when spinal surgery becomes necessary. Ethical referrals demand DCs grasp what surgical intervention means for patients. We’ll examine neurosurgeon-chiropractor collaboration, evidence-based diagnostics, surgical options, and referral protocols. When is fusion warranted? Are minimally invasive approaches always preferable (and what constitutes “minimally invasive”)?

Today’s DC must comprehend procedural differences, risks, and appropriateness, while recognizing their role in enhancing outcomes both pre- and post-surgery. Patient-centered care requires DC-neurosurgeon collaboration when conservative treatment yields suboptimal results. Learn about the indicators for fusion versus non-fusion interventions, including microdiscectomy and laminectomy procedures.

Indications, appropriateness and non-appropriateness for various lumbar fusion surgical approaches are explored, with particular attention to communication strategies for optimal patient referral.

OIG Insights to Manage Audit Risks (1 CE RISK)

Instructor: Dr. Evan Gwilliam, DC, MBA, BS
CPC CCPC QMCC CPMA CPCO AAPC Fellow

PART D – Learn essential strategies to reduce audit risk in your chiropractic practice through examination of documentation errors, third-party payer requirements, and specific risk factors identified by the Office of Inspector General. This focused session analyzes common recordkeeping mistakes and OIG guidance on unallowable payments, helping practitioners identify and correct problematic patterns before they lead to compliance issues.

The course provides practical approaches to managing practice risk factors with implementable strategies that strengthen documentation processes and reduce audit vulnerability. By mastering proper care documentation according to established guidelines, practitioners can effectively demonstrate medical necessity, minimize compliance risks, and maintain high standards of practice integrity.

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