Noncompetitive ''win-win'' relationship between gynecologist and radiologist benefits patients

Apr 13 2010

BioSphere Medical, Inc. (NASDAQ: BSMD) ("BioSphere" or the "Company") - a medical device company that has pioneered the use of bioengineered microspheres to treat uterine fibroids, hypervascularized tumors and vascular malformations by a minimally invasive, image-guided medical procedure called embolotherapy - today reported that the Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology (JMIG) has published a study in its March/April issue which concluded that establishing a referral relationship with an interventional radiologist for comprehensive uterine myoma (fibroid) treatment supports a trusting, collaborative, long-term, noncompetitive ''win-win'' relationship between the gynecologist and radiologist, meets the patient's desire for full disclosure of all myoma treatment options, improves the patient's overall medical care and physician/patient experience, and has been demonstrated to improve patient flow to a gynecologist practice.

The JMIG article was authored by Robert K. Zurawin, M.D., John H. Fisher, II, M.D. and Leah Amir, M.S., M.H.A. of, respectively, the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, St. Lukes Episcopal Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, and the Institute for Quality Resource Management, VantageView LLC, St. Louis, Missouri. The authors conducted a prospective study of referral sources, uterine artery embolization (also known as uterine fibroid embolization, or UFE) evaluation, patient decisions, and follow-up on 226 women presenting to an interventional radiologist seeking UFE for treatment of uterine fibroids, of which 138 were referred by a gynecologist and 88 self-referred. The purpose of the study was to investigate the course of fibroid treatment in these patients and to determine the effect of a cooperative referral network of interventional radiologists and gynecologists that informs patients about the options of UAE and minimally invasive surgical alternatives for fibroid treatment.

All patients in the study initially evaluated by the interventional radiologist were referred to a gynecologist. Overall, 62% of patients were candidates for UAE, and 38% underwent the procedure during the study period. Patients who did not receive UAE were returned to the referring gynecologist for further evaluation and treatment. Patients who underwent UAE were referred to a gynecologist for ongoing care. In all, 70% of self-referred patients and 92% of gynecologist-referred patients expressed satisfaction with their original gynecologist and were referred back to that physician. Patients who did not have a gynecologist or who were dissatisfied with their original gynecologist were referred to a network gynecologist for continued gynecologic care. In the study, 26 self-referred women were sent as new patients to gynecologists in the interventional radiologist's referral network, resulting in a 119% return on the original 138 gynecologist-to-interventional radiologist-referred patients. Among the 8% of gynecologist-referred women who switched to a different gynecologist within the referral network, the primary reason for dissatisfaction was the gynecologist's failure to fully disclose treatment options or offer desired minimally invasive procedures. On follow-up with a network gynecologist, eight newly referred patients underwent myoma surgery, and eight newly referred patients continued to be seen by that gynecologist. Four patients referred to the gynecologist for treatment were originally referred by the gynecologist to the interventional radiologist for UAE evaluation. Ten patients switched from their named gynecologist to a different gynecologist willing to disclose all treatment options for uterine myomas and able to provide minimally invasive surgical treatment as medically indicated. Of the 10 women who switched to this network gynecologist, eight underwent myoma surgery.

"The findings of our study emphasize the need for doctors to offer patients the full range of options available for the treatment of uterine fibroids. We hope that this paper will help educate both radiologists and gynecologists in achieving better ways of working together to provide the best care possible for women," said Dr. Zurawin.

Richard Faleschini, BioSphere's president and chief executive officer, said, "This study underscores the important benefits that women gain when their physicians collaborate to provide them all available treatment options and the best care. In addition, this study demonstrated, as we have observed in similar practice environments, that the benefits to the patients and the physicians can be quantified in terms of patient satisfaction and loyalty, as well as patient-referral flow. We hope that these data will encourage better collaboration between gynecologists and interventional radiologists, and strengthen the resolve of women to insist that physicians collaborate to provide them the best care, as reported in this study," Mr. Faleschini concluded.

Robert K. Zurawin, M.D. is a current and active member of BioSphere's Medical Advisory Board, and Leah Amir, M.S., M.H.A. is a health-care policy and reimbursement consultant for the Company. BioSphere Medical has compensated Dr. Zurawin as a member of the Company's Medical Advisory Board, and Leah Amir for collection of data for this study.