Many patients want to be vigilant and proactive in choosing a healthcare provider, but are uncertain of where or how they can access credible information.  Filtering through the cloud of information is often both tedious and confusing for patients. So, what is the alternative? Whenever patients ask me this question, the best advice I can provide is to verify the provider's practice history and credentials through independent and reliable sources, such as local departments of health websites or hotlines. Examples of questions you should ask or factors you should consider are as follows:

•    Has the provider's medical license been suspended or revoked due to negligence or
     medical malpractice?
•    Has any disciplinary action been taken against the facility or its providers?
•    Does the provider practice transparency, i.e., do they provide a forum through which
     patients can publicly voice their concerns, opinions, and experience, and interact with
     existing and former patients?
•    Does the provider have a referral list with a reasonable number of patients? For example, if
     the facility claims to perform 30,000 procedures, but can only offer a list with 10 patients,
     then you should probably be skeptical and do further research.
•    Does the provider focus on criticizing other providers, rather than justifying their value on
     the basis of merit and success? If so, this is a propagandistic technique known as
     diversion and you should exercise caution when this approach is taken.

Please note that the list I have provided is by no means exhaustive, but it can be used as a starting point or guide.  Remember, there are inherent risks involved with any surgery, but these risks can often be mitigated, or in some cases eliminated. As such, you should always exercise due diligence when selecting a provider.  

At Laser Spine Institute, we can determine a patient's total upfront cost after we verify their current insurance coverage.  We strive to make our surgical procedures as affordable as possible with hopes of alleviating as much back and neck pain as possible.  Through this effort, LSI has partnered with a few new insurance carriers, including United Health Care & affiliates, and also has the opportunity to lower our Medicare pricing.  With these new agreements in place, moving forward in 2010 - LSI patients will experience the same state of the art, highest level of medical treatment available, with lower cost and commitments.   


With regard to payment plans for those patients with upfront cost, LSI has established relationships with a few national healthcare finance companies that offer affordable monthly payments.  And, while most financial lenders are currently restricting available credit, LSI has actually seen an increase in the average credit line approval.

This type of financing is a great option, but not necessarily the best for everyone. I recommend first looking into your personal resources, for instance:
 
1) Retirement/savings accounts (i.e. 401(K), IRA...)
2) FSA (Flexible Spending Account) - medical payment plan offered by your employer
3) The equity built in your home (i.e. Home Equity Loan, Reverse Mortgage, and Refinance & Consolidate Debt)

Even though the economy has tightened, these are viable options offering the lowest interest rates. For example, it is realistic to find a Home Equity Loan for 4 to 6 percent because the current Prime Rate is at all-time lows. If equity is not available, you may want to take advantage of your 401(K) or IRA funds. A majority of finance companies are offering loans penalty-free from a retirement account. This type of loan provides a greater return than the current average retirement plan.

It is my goal to help patients gain a better understanding of the programs, specifically created to offset any additional healthcare expenses after insurance reimbursement and tailor the right solution for each patient.

Many patients suffering from back and neck pain may not be fully aware of all available options.  Reflecting on my own experience, I did not know much about minimally invasive spine surgery until I was introduced to Dr. St. Louis.  So, I thought it would be a good idea to share an article that was featured in this month's issue of our monthly newsletter, The Spinal Column.  In this article, Dr. John Spallino discusses how endoscopic spine surgery has evolved, much like arthroscopic knee and shoulder surgery.  I hope you will find this article helpful.


Endoscopic surgery refers to the use of specialized video cameras and instruments, which are passed through small incisions into the chest, abdominal or joint cavities to perform surgery. There is a threefold benefit of endoscopic spine surgery. The actual sizes of the surgical incisions are smaller, which leads to less pain and less damage to the surrounding tissues, so the recovery from surgery is much quicker.

Endoscopic techniques have been used for several decades, but these were exclusively for diagnostic purposes. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, endoscopic techniques were advanced, so that both a diagnosis could be made and the condition could be treated. These techniques have now been advanced to the treatment of spinal conditions including: herniated or bulging discs, bone spurs, spinal stenosis, foraminal stenosis, and facet disease.

By using special scopes, instruments and even a laser, LSI's surgeons have been able to successfully treat spinal conditions with minimal injury to surrounding healthy tissue and muscle.  Therefore, what once required 3 to 6 months of recovery now requires 3 to 6 weeks. As with the surgical treatment of other medical conditions affecting gallbladder, knee, or shoulder, operations performed traditionally through large incisions are being performed less frequently, while the endoscopic approach is becoming the standard of care due to its overwhelming benefits.

Dr. John Spallino is a Medical Information Specialist at Laser Spine Institute. In this capacity, he facilitates patient education by conducting nationwide informational seminars, in addition to interpreting and analyzing radiographic imaging. To learn more about Dr. Spallino, click here.