When it comes to your spine, we understand how complex care can be. It can be hard to know where to turn for help.
Frederick Marciano, MD, PhD, a neurosurgeon and independent member of the HonorHealth Medical Staff, shares important information about leading-edge spine care in this Q&A.
Q: Will you briefly describe the team of spine specialists and their individual roles?
A: There are two types of physicians that medically manage patients. A physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) specialist who does not perform procedures, and a PM&R anesthesiologist who performs procedures for spine related disorders.
A physical medicine and rehabilitation physician will be the first to determine the treatment path. They will consider a non-operative treatment plan, such as injections, or a surgical treatment plan. If the treatment plan is surgical, the patient will move on to see a spine surgeon.
Q: How would you describe multidisciplinary care to a patient? What are the patient benefits?
A: When a patient has a set of clinical symptoms, it's hard to figure out where to go or who to see. There are different aspects of care for the patient including surgical and therapeutic aspects of care. A multidisciplinary approach utilizes different specialties to look at all aspects of care for the patient.
Q: Why is it important to have different specialties work together?
A: When you have different specialties working together, you provide efficient and cost-effective care for the patient.
Q: What are some of the most asked questions or expressed frustrations you hear from your spine patients?
A: Patients are often frustrated with the time it takes to be treated or evaluated. A patient may be referred to a surgeon, but the surgeon’s schedule is booked for weeks. Then, a patient may see a surgeon to be told that they are not a surgical candidate. A multidisciplinary approach expedites care, so that a patient can go through an appropriate treatment workflow and avoid delays.
Q: How do you keep patient experience at the core of your care?
A: I am very sensitive to making sure that communication is as good as it can be. I ensure that the patient is heard and that they are getting timely care. This goes for support staff as well, not just myself.