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Advances In Local Medical Care
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WRITTEN BY CINDY SCHWEICHHANDLER
THE VALLEY HOSPITAL
ONE-STOP SOLUTION FOR SPINE ISSUES
Experiencing back and neck pain is common, but being able to resolve the underlying issue at one location isn’ t common enough.“ Medicine is very specialized now, with practitioners who have alot of knowledge about one organ system and not others,” says Dr. Gaetan Moise, aneurosurgeon and professor at the Neurological Institute of New York-Presbyterian Hospital in New York.“ If you go to urgent care and get aprescription for amuscle relaxer or asteroid pack, who does the follow-up?”
Gaetan champions adifferent model of care. As Director of Valley Health System’ s Spine Center, his multidisciplinary team of physicians offers acomprehensive approach to spine pain management and treatment.
“ We wanted to bring together non-surgical pathways so patients’ symptoms get better without having to consider surgery,” he says.
Those experiencing generalized neck orback pain, weakness radiating down the arm or leg, carpal tunnel issues, numbness, orother related problems can contact the center’ s intake coordinator, who handles the schedule in the pain management office. Next, a facilitator evaluates patients and determines the professionals— technicians, orthopedists, acupuncturists, physiatrists, and others— they will need to see. The facilitator is the point person who keeps track of patient experiences and satisfaction.“ The feedback comes back to the facilitator, who follows up,” says Gaetan.“ If there’ sstill aproblem, he’ ll help figure out what’ sstill wrong.”
Tracking software records each individual’ sprogress after procedures, physical therapy and pain management maneuvers, aswell as surgery— though Gaetan says that in the months since the center’ sopening, noone has required surgery. Healso credits intraoperative CT scanners and MRI machines with improving minimally invasive outcomes. Gaeten says that new procedures, such as small implants that can deaden nerves so pain can’ t be felt throughout the body, often ease discomfort when surgery can’ t.
PROVIDED BY THE VALLEY HOSPITAL
DR. GAETAN MOISE
10 2025 EDITION( 201) HEALTH
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