Becker’s Healthcare Podcast: Insightful Discussion with Nikhil Shetty, COO of Midwest Interventional Spine Specialists
Release Date: July 26, 2025
Introduction
In the July 26, 2025 episode of the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast, hosted by Grace Lynn Keller, listeners are treated to an in-depth conversation with Nikhil Shetty, the Chief Operating Officer at Midwest Interventional Spine Specialists. Recorded live at the 22nd Annual Spine Orthopedic and Pain Management Conference, this episode delves into the evolving landscape of outpatient care, workforce challenges, and the integration of innovative technologies in the healthcare sector.
Guest Introduction
Nikhil Shetty introduces himself as an interventional pain physician with eight years of experience at Midwest Interventional Spine Specialists in Northwest Indiana. He emphasizes his passion for interventional pain medicine and his commitment to building a thriving practice within a surgery center. Shetty states:
“…it's a very fulfilling role, you know, treating patients in the Northwest Indiana area and the full region corridor from a full spectrum of interventional pain medicine.”
(00:57)
Key Trends and Shifts in the Healthcare Industry
When discussing current trends, Shetty highlights the significant shift towards the outpatient setting and the ambulatory surgery center (ASC) model. He explains how ASCs enable faster, more efficient, and safer delivery of healthcare, particularly for high-acuity procedures that were previously confined to hospitals.
“The ambulatory surgery center model allows for faster, more efficient, safer delivery of healthcare and some of the higher acuity procedures that previously were done only in the hospital.”
(01:49)
Shetty points out the advantages of ASCs, such as better control over patient throughput, enhanced familiarity of clinical staff with OR operations, and the ability to offer advanced therapies without necessitating overnight hospital stays. This transition has particularly benefited interventional pain procedures, including neuromodulation and spinal cord stimulation, by making them more accessible and efficient.
Navigating Staffing and Workforce Challenges
Addressing the persistent issue of staffing and workforce shortages, Shetty acknowledges the difficulty in securing anesthesia services within both ASCs and hospitals. To mitigate this, Midwest Interventional Spine Specialists has turned to temporary agencies and independent contractors to fill gaps.
“We have turned to temp agencies, other independent contractors to provide those anesthesia services.”
(03:04)
Shetty also emphasizes the importance of fostering a family-like environment within the practice to retain staff. By nurturing relationships and providing educational opportunities, the organization aims to retain talent and smoothly transition responsibilities when staff members move on.
“We have kind of been able to shift and provide those anesthesia services by reaching out to those resources... sort of a family feel to it.”
(04:24)
The Evolving Role of Orthopedic Spine and ASCs in Healthcare
Shetty foresees orthopedic spine and ASCs playing an increasingly prominent role in the broader healthcare ecosystem. He attributes this growth to the efficiencies and streamlined processes inherent in the ASC model, which minimize waste and reduce overhead costs.
“Orthopedic spine and ASCs are going to become a bigger and bigger piece of the overall healthcare pie...”
(05:12)
Drawing an analogy to an F1 team, Shetty illustrates how each team member in an ASC has a distinct role, contributing to the overall efficiency and patient outcomes. This meticulous organization attracts larger health systems, which are now acquiring ASCs to capitalize on these efficiencies.
Innovations and Initiatives in Healthcare
Exploring the realm of new technologies, Shetty highlights the promising role of artificial intelligence (AI) in optimizing administrative processes. Specifically, AI is utilized in the revenue cycle management (RCM) process to ensure accurate coding and timely submissions, thereby enhancing operational efficiency.
“The utilization of artificial intelligence... allowing us to streamline those processes, making our already burdened workforce lives a little bit easier.”
(06:40)
Shetty underscores the importance of data collection and measurement in identifying inefficiencies. By quantifying the time spent on various tasks, the organization can leverage AI to automate and refine workflows, ultimately improving the patient experience from start to finish.
“If you can't measure it, you can't really change it... streamlining the workflows, making our already burdened workforce lives a little bit easier.”
(07:10)
Conclusion
As the conversation draws to a close, Shetty reiterates the dual growth trajectory of outpatient ASCs and interventional pain medicine. He notes the harmonious expansion of these fields through the adoption of new technologies and therapies, allowing the organization to serve a larger patient population, particularly those suffering from chronic pain.
“Two things are growing. One is that outpatient ambulatory surgery centers, orthopedics and spine, and particularly interventional pain management, that practice... we are able to see that, you know, we're both fields are able to grow together and harmoniously.”
(08:24)
Grace Lynn Keller concludes the episode by thanking Nikhil Shetty for his valuable insights, emphasizing the live recording at the Spine Orthopedic and Pain Management Conference.
Final Thoughts
This episode of the Becker’s Healthcare Podcast offers a comprehensive exploration of the current and future landscape of outpatient care, the challenges of workforce management, and the integration of advanced technologies in healthcare operations. Nikhil Shetty’s expertise provides listeners with a nuanced understanding of how ASCs and interventional pain medicine are shaping the future of healthcare delivery.