McLaren's Spine Center
Located at McLaren Flint
Four out of five Americans will experience back pain at some point during their lives. This pain can be the result of an accident or injury or simply due to everyday wear and tear. Fortunately, for 80% of these people, their back or neck pain will subside with time and exercise. Those who continue to experience symptoms can now seek help through the McLaren's Spine Program.
The McLaren Spine Center offers a uniquely specialized approach to diagnose and treat back and neck pain. Our services are designed around the mission of improving function, alleviating pain and enhancing quality of life for people with spine problems. What makes the program unique is the "virtual" team of physicians and therapy centers that bring the treatment closer to the patient.
A Team of Specialists to Help You Feel, Move and Live Better
The McLaren Spine Center offers a multidisciplinary approach in the treatment of back and neck pain. The program combines the expertise of clinicians in the following specialties:
- Neurosurgery
- Physical medicine
- Clinical health psychology
- Interventional radiology
- Orthopedic surgery
- Physical therapy
- Pain management
- Certified case management
These experts work together in a coordinated "virtual" system to identify and treat conditions of the back and neck, ranging from the most common to the most complex. The McLaren Spine Center is an umbrella that links together private practice physicians, surgeons, physiatrists, and therapy locations, creating a truly comprehensive, multidisciplinary program where all of the physicians participating in the program follow clinically-approved guidelines. In addition to the excellent care from physicians in the program, patients also have the security of knowing that they have access to all of the resources of McLaren Flint.
Individualized Treatment Plans
The physicians associated with the McLaren Spine Center work closely with physical therapists to develop a complete, individualized treatment plan for each patient that considers his or her diagnosis, lifestyle and treatment goals. This team works together to achieve the best possible outcomes for patients using leading edge technology, the latest techniques and the most effective therapies to help patients feel, move and live better.
When To Seek Help
The following symptoms of chronic back and neck pain may indicate the need to seek help:
- Pain that is persistent and cannot be relieved
- Pain radiating into the buttocks, leg or groin or pain radiating into the shoulder, arm or hand
- Muscle spasms in the back or neck
- Headache
- Numbness in the legs or arms
- Weakness or loss of bladder or bowel control
From the first visit to the final therapy session, the McLaren Spine Center offers appropriate and effective treatment from a full range of available options. The McLaren Spine Center links together private practice physicians, surgeons, physiatrists, and therapy locations, creating a truly comprehensive, multidisciplinary program where all of the participating physicians follow clinically-approved guidelines.
Surgical Treatment
For some problems, surgery is the only feasible solution. The McLaren Spine Center's team of surgeons is experienced and well skilled in performing a wide range of procedures with advanced techniques and technology.
Patient Education
Since its inception, the Spine Center has offered patients the opportunity to attend a pre-surgery educational session. This unique program is designed to walk the patient, as well as family members, through the surgical process from preadmission testing, to what to expect post surgery and once you have returned home.
Download our Patient Guide to Spine Surgery
A Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Blue Distinction Center+
McLaren Flint's spine surgery program continues to deliver high-quality care to patients. The Medical Center has been designated as a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Blue Distinction Center+ for Spine Surgery. The Blue Distinction Centers for Specialty Care's program is a national designation awarded by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies to medical facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering quality specialty care - and includes robust quality measures focused on improved patient health and safety as well as cost-efficiency measures.
McLaren Flint now has five prestigious Blue Distinction Center+ designations which include Cardiac Care, Maternity Care, Bariatric Surgery, Knee and Hip Replacement and Spine Surgery. The selection criteria used to evaluate facilities were developed with input from the medical community and include general quality and safety metrics as well as program specific metrics.
Research confirms that designated Blue Distinction Centers+ demonstrate better quality and improved outcomes for patients, with lower rates of complications and readmissions than their peers. Blue Distinction Centers+ are also 20 percent more cost-efficient.
These experts work together in a coordinated system to identify and treat conditions of the back and neck, ranging from the most common to the most complex. Whether a patient's treatment is medical or surgical, the team of specialists at the McLaren Spine Program are dedicated to applying leading-edge technology, the latest techniques, and the most effective therapies to help patients feel, move and live better.
