Spine Manual
You and your doctor have weighed the options and made the decision to have spine surgery. Right now, you might feel many emotions: relieved to have a diagnosis and plan of action, anxious about what to expect from surgery, impatient to be rid of your pain.
Download Spine Surgery Patient Education Guide
At the Piedmont Spine Center, we understand everything you're going through.
And it's our mission "and our privilege" to help make your surgery a positive experience. Your care and comfort is our number one priority. If you have any questions about the information in this guide, please call 404-605-1011.
How to Use This Guide
This guide is designed to increase your knowledge about your hospital experience and help you develop realistic expectations about the surgical experience – before surgery, during your hospital stay, and after your discharge home. Please bring this guide with you each time you are scheduled to see your surgeon, attend the preoperative spine surgery class and when you come to the hospital for surgery. This guide is an educational tool that does not replace medical or professional advice.
You're In Good Hands
At the Piedmont Spine Center, we've assembled the state's largest team of pre-eminent physicians whose specialties cover the entire spectrum of neurological and orthopedic spine illness and injury. Here, our doctors treat more spine patients than any other hospital in Atlanta. We've surrounded our specialists with the most advanced technologies, state-of-the-art ancillary services and highly trained clinical staff. So, no matter what you're feeling, you can rest assured that you're in good hands at Piedmont Hospital's Spine Center.
Enhancing Your Own Care
We consider you, the patient, a vital part of your healthcare team. As such, we encourage you to actively participate in your own well-being. By making decisions about your healthcare, you'll likely have less anxiety before surgery and recover more quickly afterward. So, make it a point to work closely with your caregivers. Ask questions. Learn all you can about your condition. Increase your knowledge about your surgery. Get involved in planning for your recovery and transition back home. Knowing what to expect before, during and after spine surgery will go a long way toward a smooth and successful recovery.
Patient Pathways
You might hear your caregivers refer to your plan of care as a "pathway." A pathway describes the day-by-day events that usually occur with patients with a certain type of surgery or treatment. For example, most spinal surgery patients will improve steadily after surgery and will go home in one to three days. Mapping your treatment plan, noting anticipated events, recovery milestones and needs after discharge is a proven and nationally recognized method for optimizing your:
- Consults with physicians
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Medication
- Diet
- Assessments
- Teaching
- Discharge preparation
Benefits of Spine Center Patient Pathways
Our spine experts are committed to the pathway philosophy of medicine because they:
- Are proven to improve the quality of care.
- Enhance communications among physicians, hospital caregivers, patients and families.
- Facilitate decision-making among caregivers and between caregivers and patients.
- Inform and involve patients in their own care, helping improve outcomes and patient satisfaction.
- Decrease the length of stay.
- Reduce hospital readmission rates.
- Allow for smoother discharge and transition back to the community.
In short, our Patient Pathways unite all of your caregivers toward clearly defined goals, giving you the highest level of patient-focused care.
*Georgia Hospital Association Inpatient Database 2006
Source: Piedmont Spine Surgery Patient Education Guide
This information is an educational tool that does not replace medical or professional advice.