Article
Experience in a multidisciplinary re-accredited level one spine centre
Erfahrung in interdisziplinärem re-zertifizierten Level-one-Zentrum
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Published: | June 4, 2021 |
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Objective: According to the DAK health insurance report from 2018, hospital treatment for spinal diseases is constantly rising. As the result of a rising need for treatment quality and the socioeconomic burden, establishment of specialized spinal centers seems to be of great importance, not only to be able to offer the complete interdisciplinary range of spinal treatment in high quality, but also for a recruitment of professions needed in future for those patients. This article reviews the experience of the first level one accredited spinal center in the eastern part of Germany.
Methods: Description of structures and performances of a multidisciplinary spine center founded 4 years before. To give a frank insight of the benefits associated to the foundation of an interdisciplinary center health professional of all associated medical disciplines and occupational categories at the university center were interviewed using in house generated questionnaire for quality control and later analyzed.
Results: In 4 years of the interdisciplinary university comprehensive spinal center, based on the DWG database we have been able to constantly increase the number of in and out hospital treated patients from 2016 to 2020. Due to process optimization (spinal boards, common treatment standard procedures, telephone back pain triage, uniform pain-protocol, continuing staff education, joint research, short communication channels etc…), patients treatment could be standardized. Indication quality and surgical skills improved due to interdisciplinary conferences, discussions and interdisciplinary surgeries of spinal cases.
Conclusion: Especially at university hospitals, the establishment of interdisciplinary spinal centers is inevitable. The way to establish such centers deeply depends on local structures, the will to find compromises and a motivated team. Development of a new medical profession combining the neurosurgical, trauma, orthopedic and conservative skills might be a consequential necessity to ensure the best quality in spine surgery. Furthermore, collaboration with other conservative professions and broad spinal education of surgeons treating those patients is imminent and a future challenge.