Dr. Alyson Engle, Interventional Pain Physician

Summary

Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: Insights from Dr. Allison Engel on Interventional Pain Management

Release Date: August 9, 2025

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Introduction

In the August 9, 2025 episode of the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, host Grace Lynn Keller engages in a compelling discussion with Dr. Allison Engel, an experienced Interventional Pain Physician and Anesthesiologist. Recorded live at the 22nd Annual Spine, Orthopedic, and Pain Management Conference, the conversation delves into current trends, operational challenges, and future innovations shaping the landscape of pain management and broader healthcare practices.

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Industry Trends and Shifts

Dr. Engel opens the discussion by highlighting significant changes within the pain management sector. She notes an increasing number of claim denials, particularly from commercial insurance payers, which complicates reimbursement processes. This financial pressure is prompting many practices to pivot toward alternative revenue streams such as Workers’ Compensation, Personal Injury (PI), or concierge medicine models.

"We've been seeing a lot of denials, especially in the pain space... practices moving towards Workers comp, PI or concierge type of medicine for the revenue streams" (01:07).

This shift reflects a broader strategy among healthcare providers to stabilize and diversify their income sources amidst fluctuating insurance landscapes.

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Addressing Staffing and Workforce Challenges

The conversation transitions to enduring concerns over staffing and workforce stability in healthcare. Dr. Engel emphasizes the importance of a cohesive and motivated operational team to navigate these pressures effectively.

"One overall theme... having a great operational team is getting a vibe of good people, everyone being on the same page, bringing positive energy and leaning into each person's passions" (01:54).

She stresses that respect, appreciation, and a sense of value within the organization are crucial for retaining staff and fostering a supportive work environment. This approach not only enhances team morale but also ensures that the practice operates smoothly and efficiently.

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Evolving Role of Orthopedics and Ambulatory Surgery Centers (ASCs)

As outpatient care continues to expand, Dr. Engel discusses the evolving role of orthopedics and ASCs within the healthcare ecosystem. She observes a trend of consolidation among private practices, where different specialties such as primary care, rheumatology, orthopedics, and pain management are merging to create more integrated care networks.

"Private practices are merging and condensing with other... to give the patients other options to keep them within their organization rather than referring them out" (02:48).

This integration aims to enhance patient retention by providing comprehensive services in-house, thereby improving accessibility and continuity of care.

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Innovations and Future Initiatives

Exploring the frontier of healthcare technology, Dr. Engel addresses the adoption of advanced technologies and artificial intelligence (AI) within private practices. She anticipates that while AI tools will become increasingly prevalent, their high costs may drive smaller practices to seek mergers or private equity partnerships to afford these innovations.

"Private practices are merging with others or selling to private equity in order to afford those costs of advanced technology, advanced AI" (03:51).

Despite the technological advancements, Dr. Engel underscores the enduring necessity of the human touch in patient care. She envisions a balanced integration of AI and personalized care, ensuring that technology enhances rather than replaces the essential human elements of healthcare delivery.

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Final Thoughts: Balancing Technology and Human Touch

In her closing remarks, Dr. Engel reflects on the future trajectory of healthcare. She emphasizes the importance of maintaining the human aspect of medical practice amidst the surge of AI and technological tools.

"We're also seeing people move, patients in particular, wanting that concierge type of model and willing to pay cash for it. And so we can't forget that human touch when we also talk about the AI component" (04:28).

Dr. Engel is optimistic about the future, believing that a harmonious blend of advanced technology and human-centered care will lead to improved outcomes and a more resilient healthcare system.

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Conclusion

Dr. Allison Engel’s insights provide a nuanced understanding of the current dynamics and future directions in interventional pain management and broader healthcare practices. Her emphasis on operational excellence, adaptive revenue models, team cohesion, and the balanced integration of technology with human care offers valuable guidance for healthcare leaders navigating an ever-evolving industry landscape.

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For more insights and expert discussions, tune into future episodes of the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, delivered daily with the latest industry news and thought leadership from key healthcare decision-makers.

Transcript

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[Grace Lynn Keller]

Is Grace Lynn Keller with the Beckers Healthcare Podcast and we are recording live at the 22nd annual Spine, Orthopedic and Pain Management Conference. I'm currently joined by Dr. Allison Engel, who is experienced in small independent practices as well as large corporate structures, and she's here to share some of her insights today. So Dr. Ingle, thank you for being here.

[Dr. Allison Engel]

Thank you for having me.

[Grace Lynn Keller]

And let's just jump right in and start our conversation off with what trends or shifts you're currently seeing right now in the industry that you think are most important for industry leaders to pay attention to.

[Dr. Allison Engel]

Yes, that's a great question. We've been seeing a lot of denials, especially in the pain space. So I'm an interventional pain physician and anesthesiologist and so we're seeing a lot of difficulty in getting reimbursements or prior offs for commercial insurance payers. And so we have seen a shift of a lot of practices moving towards or trying to move ToWards Workers comp, PI or concierge type of medicine for the revenue streams and to increase their.

[Grace Lynn Keller]

Profitability and staffing and workforce challenges also continue to be a concern across health care. So how is your organization navigating these pressures and what strategies have you seen work?

[Dr. Allison Engel]

Well, you know, this is a great question because I have been in a lot of places and one overall theme I've seen at the ones that work the best that have a great operational team is getting a vibe of good people, everyone being on the same page, bringing positive energy and leaning into each person's passions or where they really do well. I think the, the hard part when staffing comes up is when people don't feel respected or appreciated or feel like there's a, a value for them in the organization. So I think those key, those three key help our team members feel supported and it we've got a great team now and it's everyone works together very well.

[Grace Lynn Keller]

And as outpatient care continues to grow how do you see the role of orthopedics and ASCs evolving within the broader healthcare ecosystem?

[Dr. Allison Engel]

I really see on the ground that private practices are merging and condensing with other, maybe primary care, rheumatology, orthopedics, pain, spine, these groups of physicians trying to get together to help keep their key players in house and to give the patients other options to keep them within their organization rather than referring them out. And a lot of times that's helpful by some of the key people on the ground knowing of what the patient needs, like when the patient checks out, they are able to help tell you in your organization what patients are looking for, because not always is it documented or is it in the data analysis that we see? So we utilize everybody in the company to kind of help gather us, gather our thoughts and give, give us a. Give each of the patients a voice of where, what their needs really are.

[Grace Lynn Keller]

And then finally, many organizations are exploring new technologies, partnerships or care models to improve efficiency and outcomes. So are there any innovations or initiatives that you found particularly promising?

[Dr. Allison Engel]

You know, a lot of the, a lot of the private practices are merging with others or selling to private equity in order to afford those costs of advanced technology, advanced AI. I think we're going to see some more of that as people want to have those AI tools and they're probably going to be quite expensive for small private practices, but everyone's going to gear towards them. And I think we'll also, though, still need that human touch, that human component. And so there will be a balance of that.

[Grace Lynn Keller]

And is there anything else you'd like to share that we didn't touch on today?

[Dr. Allison Engel]

I think it's important for us to just kind of take a step back and see where healthcare is going. We see a lot of advancement in AI and technology that's helping the healthcare system, but we're also seeing people move, patients in particular, wanting that concierge type of model and willing to pay cash for it. And so we can't forget that human touch when we also talk about the AI component. I think eventually we'll have a good merge and a balanced approach to healthcare. So I think it's a positive, positive future outlook.

[Grace Lynn Keller]

Absolutely. Well, Dr. Ingle, thank you so much for joining me today on the Becker's Healthcare Podcast and sharing these insights again. We are recording live at the 22nd annual Spine Orthopedic and Pain Management Conference.

[Dr. Allison Engel]

Great, thank you for having me.