Four spine and neurosurgeons discuss the value of forging partnerships with other providers in the community.
Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. We invite all spine surgeon and specialist responses.
Next week's question: How can spine surgeons partner with surgeons of other specialties to benefit patient care?
Please send responses to Alan Condon at acondon@beckershealthcare.com by Wednesday, Oct. 30, 5 p.m. CST.
Note: The following responses were edited for length and clarity.
Question: What types of partnerships does your group have with other providers in the area?
James Chappuis, MD. Spine Center of Atlanta. Our biggest relationship is with chiropractors in the metropolitan area of Atlanta. We consider them our partners. They treat patients conservatively and if the patients' symptoms progress or don't respond to conservative care, they are referred to us. Our other significant working relationships are with interventional spine and pain management clinics.
Brian R. Gantwerker, MD. Founder of the Craniospinal Center of Los Angeles: We partner with different pain physicians and neurosurgeons in the area. We work in a collaborative fashion so that we can easily refer patients for second opinions if need be. Also, not every patient will like every physician, so we like to be able to offer a variety of different physicians that our patients can see.
Vladimir Sinkov, MD. Sinkov Spine Center (Las Vegas): My group has referral patterns with other providers in the area to coordinate and streamline patient care.
Issada Thongtrangan, MD. Microspine (Phoenix): I usually partner with chiropractors, pain specialists, physical therapists and primary care physicians in the community. I present a seminar on a short topic in spine surgery so they have a better understanding of how my practice can benefit their patients. I can also learn from them, especially with problems they've encountered around referral process and continuing of care.