recognized for Superior cAre by ncQA


SpineCare has been recognized by the National Committee for Quality Assurance in its Back Pain Recognition Program (BPRP). SpineCare is one of only two clinics in southeastern Wisconsin whose physicians and chiropractors have been recognized for delivering superior care for people with low back pain.


“It’s not just Pilates or sit-ups,” she said. “We work on very specific


exercises that isolate particular muscle groups.” Step one is setting functional goals. “Joe is a golfer, so his goals


included being able to walk a golf course and swing a club,” Singletary said. “We taught him to swing with better body mechanics, maintaining a neutral spine posture and moving from the hip and shoulder.”


Joe also worked with SpineCare’s occupational therapy team.


“We start by finding out which day-to-day activities the patient is having problems performing,” said Carol Fitzgerald, occupational therapist. Patients learn basic body mechanics for moving, bending and lifting, and then find out how to apply the principles to job tasks and home activities like vacuuming, shoveling snow — even getting out of bed and putting on their socks.


“Many patients are very functionally limited by pain when they start


out,” Singletary said. “By the time they are done, not only are they functioning better, but they also know how to manage their problem if it comes up again. A lot of people feel very empowered when they leave us.”


Joe concurs. Since his treatment he has “tweaked” his back a few


times but he self-manages the pain, applies what he’s learned through therapy and is better in a day or two.


n Andrew nelSon, md SpineCare Locations


GREENFIELD new! Greenfield Highlands Health Center 4455 S. 108 St.


MENOMONEE FALLS


Community Memorial Medical Commons W129 N7055 Northfield Drive, Building B, Suite 402


OCONOMOWOC 1230 Corporate Center Drive, Suite 400


WAUWATOSA


Tosa Center Building 1155 N. Mayfair Road


ApproAch to Surgery The goal of SpineCare is to treat patients non-invasively whenever


possible. Some patients, however, do require surgical intervention. According to Marjorie Wang, MD, MPH, a Medical College of


Wisconsin neurosurgeon, identifying surgery candidates requires careful evaluation. “One major issue is making sure the patient’s symptoms match their diagnostic workup.” Finding a problem on an MRI is not the same as locating the source of a patient’s pain. “Just because you have bone spurs, it doesn’t necessarily mean you should have surgery.”


The most common surgical procedure for spinal pain is discectomy,


the removal of the displaced portion of a herniated disc. Discectomy may sometimes be accompanied by a fusion procedure that stabilizes the spine by joining vertebrae. Both procedures can often be performed using minimally invasive techniques.


According to Dr. Wang, the SpineCare team is focused intensely on optimizing surgical care for patients.


8 Froedtert Today September 2011 froedtert.com


n mArjorie wAng, md, mph


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