As we shift our emphasis to value-based medicine and reimburse-
ment, such distinctions have never been more important. In the mean-
time, it's important to be transparent with patients. We have to inform
them on the front end that we really don't know what's going to be the
best mesh for them. As much as possible, we should inform them and
help them through a shared decision-making process. Our hope is that
as time goes on, we'll be able to help guide them a little better — that
we'll see, and we'll be able to help them see, where they most likely fit
in and what kind of treatment option, sometimes including what
mesh, would contribute to the best possible outcome.
OSM
6 6 • O U T PA T I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E • A P R I L 2 0 1 8
Dr. Ramshaw (hernia@utmck.edu) is chair of the Department of Surgery at the
University of Tennessee Graduate School of Medicine in Knoxville, Tenn.
