About the Spine Care Center

What is the Spine Care Center?

The Smith Northview Spine Center is a program developed to improve access to state-of-the-art treatment for problems associated with the back and neck. Our patients and their referring physicians are led through a process of assessment and treatment ranging from physical therapy to aggressive non-surgical management, and if necessary delicate spine surgery, tailored to the patient's unique condition. our multidisciplinary approach means patients receive the most appropriate treatment from the right specialty physician based on scientific research and proven treatment methods.

The Smith Northview Spine Care Center offers programs with the latest procedures and services, including but not limited to:

• Physical Therapy
• Psychological Services
• Pain Management
• Spine Surgery
• X-rays, CAT Scans, and MRI
• Nerve and Muscle Testing
• Spinal Injections
• Rehabilitation

What options are available?

Whether you need physical therapy, spinal injections, pain management, or surgery, the Spine Center physicians and surgeons work together on your case to ensure you receive the most appropriate care for your condition. By utilizing our multidisciplinary approach, you can be assured your treatment will be of the highest possible quality and provided as soon and as safely as possible.

How is personalized care provided?

Each patient is assigned to a personal Nurse Case Manager. This person works to keep the lines of communication open between Spine Center staff, the patient, and his or her referring physician. The Nurse Case Manager guides the patient through their prescribed treatment plan, providing education and support to the patient and family at every stage of the process. It's the nurse's responsibility to ensure the patient understands the diagnosis, treatment options, and potential outcomes.

Referrals

Physicians can refer members to Smith Northview Spince Center at any point in the treatment process without prior authorization, including before or after failure of conservative care. Smith Northview Spine Center also accepts self referral by the patient.

Establishing the Diagnosis

Sometimes even with a good set of X-rays or MRI scans, the root cause of your pain is not easy to identify. That can be especially true when it happens in the cervical spine or neck area. There are some basic things we look for that can help us determine exactly what is going on. We may try some nonsurgical therapies first to see if the problem improves or persists. We will not schedule surgery until we completely diagnose the source of the pain.

Once we decide if surgery is appropriate, we will begin to prepare you for what you can expect. We will talk with you about getting ready for surgery, the operation, and typical hospital stays and recovery time. We will also talk with you about physical therapy and post-surgical follow-up care.

Surgical Consultation

A good doctor knows how to listen. At Smith Northview Hospital Spine Care Center, your surgical consultation is an opportunity for us to get to know you. During the exam, we will inquire about your medical history, your family medical history, any previous injuries you may have suffered, any previous surgeries, if you were hurt on the job or in an accident, how long you have been in pain, and any medications or treatments you've taken.

Is your back pain isolated to just one location? Does it radiate down your arms or legs? How is your diet? How often do you exercise? What are your expectations from back surgery? What are your fears? The information we gather from this consultation, along with MRI scans and medical records from referring physicians, helps us determine the next step in your treatment.