University Hospitals Cervical & Lumbar Spine Center of Excellence+
Our Cervical and Lumbar Spine Center of Excellence+ brings together a comprehensive array of surgical and non-surgical procedures and services for patients with injuries, degenerative conditions, deformities, fractures and tumors of the cervical and lumbar spine. University Hospitals’ nationally recognized, fellowship-trained spine surgeons and supporting clinical staff provide world-class, compassionate, personalized care for these patients.
Get Started Today
Choose an option to begin planning your cervical spine or lumbar spine care at our Center of Excellence+.
I’m a Patient/UH Employee I’m an Employer/Payer I’m a Healthcare ProfessionalWhat Is a Center of Excellence+?
At UH, we define Center of Excellence+ (COE+) as a program established to supply an exceptionally high concentration of expertise and related resources centered on a particular area of medicine. A COE+ strives for value, optimal clinical outcomes, a positive patient experience, and lower costs for both patients and employers.
Bundled Package
All the services offered through our Cervical and Lumbar Spine Center of Excellence+ are bundled together to be paid at a single rate. This approach promotes efficiency and best practices from all caregivers involved as they work together to provide the highest quality patient care while staying within a price point. Program navigators provide concierge-style support, coordinating all specialist appointments and ancillary services and accompanying patients to these appointments.
The UH Cervical and Lumbar Spine Center of Excellence+ bundled package includes the following:
Evaluation
- Surgeon consult
- Psychiatry consult
- Lab services
- Plain film and flex extension x-rays
- Other “rule-out” x-rays
- Standing scoliosis x-ray (if diagnosed with scoliosis)
- EMG nerve conduction studies
- EKG (dependent upon age)
Surgery
- Medical records review
- Lab services
- For cervical, lumbar or decompression surgery, charges for the following:
- Hospital
- Surgeon
- Anesthesia
- Radiology
- Pathology
- Home care nursing visit
- Home care physical therapy visits
- Occupational therapy visit
- Cervical brace
- Walker
Available Procedures
Procedures performed as part of our Cervical and Lumbar Spine Center of Excellence+ include the following:
- Cervical Spinal Fusion
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Cervical spinal fusion (arthrodesis) is used to join selected vertebrae in the neck (cervical spine). This surgery may be recommended following a neck injury (to stabilize the neck and prevent further bone fracturing and potential paralysis); to treat misalignment of cervical vertebrae; and as a follow-up procedure to treat herniated discs, spinal stenosis, rheumatoid arthritis, tumors, infections, spinal deformities and certain other conditions.
- Lumbar Spinal Fusion
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Spinal fusion (spondylodesis or spondylosyndesis) is a neurosurgical/orthopedic surgical technique that joins two or more vertebrae together permanently. The procedure is usually performed to stop the motion at a painful vertebral segment. Fusion of the lumbar spine (the lowest five vertebrae of the spine) is performed to correct or improve such conditions as lumbar degenerative disc disease and lumbar spondylolisthesis.
- Spinal Decompression
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Spinal decompression is a nonsurgical procedure in which manual or motorized traction is used to stretch the spine. This therapy can be useful in the treatment of chronic neck, back or leg pain (sciatica) caused by spinal nerve compression; degenerative disc disease; spine injury involving damage to spinal nerve roots; and the wearing away of facet joints in the back of the vertebra.
To learn more about cervical and lumbar spine treatment at UH, visit our Spine Services – Conditions and Treatments page.
Meet the Team
- Robert Berkowitz, MD – Program Surgeon
- Jason Eubanks, MD – Program Surgeon
- Christopher Furey, MD – Program Surgeon
- Zachary Gordon, MD – Program Surgeon
- Gabriel Smith, MD – Program Surgeon
- Sara Brodeur, RN, BSN – Program Navigator
- Julie Grimm, RN-BC, BSN, ONC – Program Navigator
Preparing for Surgery & Post-Surgery Care
A nurse navigator will assist you in enrolling in MyChart Care Companion, our digital patient navigation platform that will help you prepare and follow up after your procedure. Through this platform, you can do the following:
- Receive pre-operative education electronically
- Review videos at your own convenience (though completion is required prior to surgery)
- Connect with nurse navigators via MyChart and ask them any questions you may have
- Complete patient satisfaction surveys
- Using MyChart, track your patient compliance scores on patient-reported outcomes such as post-surgery pain intensity, mobility, etc.