Two spine surgeons discuss ways to maintain good referral relationships.
Ask Spine Surgeons is a weekly series of questions posed to spine surgeons around the country about clinical, business and policy issues affecting spine care. We invite all spine surgeon and specialist responses. Next week's question: What is the proudest moment of your career?
Please send responses to Anuja Vaidya at avaidya@beckershealthcare.com by Wednesday, Oct. 1, at 5 p.m. CST.
Question: What are some ways in which spine surgeons maintain good referral relationships?
Ara Deukmedjian, MD, CEO, Medical Director, Deuk Spine 
Institute, Melbourne, Fla.: The best way to maintain good referrals is to have excellent outcomes from treatment. This is a simple concept but difficult to achieve for most surgeons. With excellent outcomes, the surgeon will get the most important patient referrals.
The key to success is understanding what an excellent outcome is. Excellent outcomes have three key elements. First, a high success rate at curing the patient's symptoms for which they sought treatment. Secondly, an extremely low complication rate. One bad complication will destroy much of a surgeon's good reputation. Finally, a very fast recovery. Every patient wants to forget about the surgery as soon as possible. The sooner their pain goes away and the sooner they can go back to normal daily activities, the happier they will be.
Deuk Spine Institute has made these goals part of our daily philosophy and culture. Patient satisfaction is what we live for, and strive to do better every day. One way we accomplished this is through the development of our "I care" program.
Sheeraz Qureshi, MD, Assistant Professor, Spinal Surgery, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai Hospital, New York:
When it comes to referrals it is important to be available, provide excellent patient care and communicate in a timely manner with the referring provider. This allows for appropriate and efficient multidisciplinary care.
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