MGH to participate in spine study

A major component of what launched Pioneer Surgical was a line of spine products.

The matter of spinal surgery–and recovery–is important across the state of Michigan.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, the Blue Care Network, and the Henry Ford Health System have launched a state–wide initiative, called the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative.

Marquette General Hospital is one of eight facilities in the study.

M.G.H. will follow spine surgery patients to see how they are doing with pain relief and function restoration.

The facility may have been selected to represent the U.P. demographic for several unique reasons.

“We have a very strong multi–disciplinary program for care of the spine in the Upper Peninsula,” Medical Director of the Brain and Spine Institute at Marquette General Hospital Dr. Craig Coccia said.

“Also, because of our unique geographic location and the population that we treat, which is frankly distinctly different than many other areas in the state of Michigan.  You can imagine that the type of patients we have; their health, their lifestyle, their expectations or activities can be quite a bit different than somebody in a metropolitan area.”

The collaborative is looking to study all patients who are having “elective surgery.”

Patient participation will remain anonymous, using only health and treatment information that does not contain any personal identification.

The initiative kicked off last week, and is expected to continue for several years to study long–term outcomes.