Orthopedics International - Spine: Going the Extra Mile for Patients

If you come into our offices early on a Tuesday morning, you’ll find a group of surgeons in vigorous discussion. We’re not having the usual "water-cooler" conversation, but a passionate debate about how best to treat the complex spinal problems we’ll see that week. Why do we meet? Because spine problems are so complicated we believe they demand a team of spine experts to develop the best treatment plans. So, every week we focus some of the best minds in the field on several of our most complicated cases, to be 100% sure we’re giving each patient the best treatment possible.

The Tuesday meeting is a great example of our philosophy of care. We believe that excellent treatment is always a result of "going the extra mile" for patients. This philosophy is reflected in our commitment to extensive training, constant research, and clear communication between the medical team and the patient.

- Extensive Training

Each physician in our team has trained in a leading Spine Fellowship program. After we each finished orthopaedic residency programs, we then chose to complete at least one extra year studying spine care under the direction of one of the leaders in the field. This "extra mile" of training provides invaluable experience and insight. But training doesn’t finish after a Fellowship! We are constantly updating our skills at courses, and we even train other surgeons around the world, to ensure that our skills remain sharp and up-to-date.

- Constant Research

It seems that every month a new way to treat spine problems is announced. You’ve probably come across a few such claims on the Internet. Some of these claims have merit, but others don’t. We believe the best way to separate the true advances from the "hype" is to constantly research and test new techniques. Only when a technique’s safety and efficacy is truly proven to the satisfaction of our entire team will we allow it to be introduced into our operating rooms. In addition, we are committed to a type of research that many other practices simply don’t have time for: outcome studies. We attempt to review the long-term results of each patient we treat. Then, using sophisticated research tools, we analyze our results and identify which treatments perform best and how we can continue to improve. This commitment to constant improvement keeps our patients in safe hands.

Patient - Physician Communication

For a spine problem to be treated successfully it is essential that the patient is an active part of the treatment and recovery process. As a result, we spend a lot of time with our patients explaining and answering questions about their condition, treatment options, and recovery.

Of course the philosophy of care outlined above is not "rocket science." However, putting the philosophy into practice truly sets us apart from many other practices. Few others can offer the commitment to training, research and communication that we offer. If you like what you’ve read about us, we hope you’ll make an appointment to see us, and together we can begin the process of treating your back or neck problem.

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