That opinion doesn't need posts from this site for fuel. Synthes reps overstock, don't take returns and generally screw the customer. It's a pretty well known fact.
This is how Synthes management looks at the customer!
1. Subject: RE: LRMC RFP Clarification
That doesn’t answer my question. Is it per device or is it per level? Duh! PLIF requires two devices per level, TPLIF requires one device per level, etc. Don’t bother the idiot again, I’ll work through it on my end.
2. FYI – excellent communication from . If you have needs or projects that I can help you with, formalizing them in this type of email is a great way to ensure that I focus on and tackle all of the items on your wish list at once. I particularly liked #9! You are ALL welcome to join. If you need directions to the HCA offices, please let me know.
9. Brett Perkins and his friends in a dark alley. 12/9 – 11:00pm behind the HCA bldg in Largo. You bring the brass knuckles, I’ll bring the bat.
3. The Wicked Witch is.....
not dead – but gone. Everything in this email is confidential. Most of it is fact. Some of it is my opinion. I have no scientific way of predicting time lines so don’t hold me to them please.
HCA Update
Melanie McMeekan is no longer working on the spine initiative for HCA/HPG. As many of you know, Pannenberg, Birchler and Morocko met with Christina Katamay yesterday to discuss next steps to reach a national agreement with HCA. She is sending a letter out to all member hospitals (OR Directors, CEO’s, etc.) next week advising that Synthes is in “good standing” and both parties are working to achieve a agreement. As an FYI, their global spine spend is around $250MM. MSD still has the market share but compared to one year ago, their share has dropped from 50% to 28%. They are followed by: Synthes, Globus, Stryker/J&J equal, Zimmer and lastly Nuvasive. You can see why MSD struck the deal – they were losing business almost as fast as Nuvasive is gaining. Nuvasive is in trouble and Christina is trying to get them out. They are charging $2k for the disposable neuromonitoring kit and HCA recently reached two contracts with neuromonitoring companies for $500/case. HCA is also at odds with Globus as they signed the cap but then pulled a bait and switch. I would expect Globus and Nuvasive to begin losing significant market share. HCA has been unsuccessful in reaching an agreement with MTF as they’ve been difficult to deal with so Synthes is taking this initiative over.
We may have a national agreement in place for the following as soon as the end of next week:
1)MTF biomaterials and spacers
2)Oracle
Birchler and Morocko are pondering next steps for other new technologies and haven’t decided what they are going to put on the table. Hopefully they will by the end of next week.
The HCA situation has had a significant impact on our business for over one year. It has impacted Mark’s numbers this year – he is feeling the heat so I believe him when he said “this is as positive as I’ve ever seen it”, referring to yesterday’s meeting obviously.
Keep engaging your surgeons – please! The support from Drygas and Webb is helping us tremendously and the timing is key.
Keep the entire content of this email confidential and have a wonderful weekend!
Scum bags all the way to the top!