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Comprehensive, Preventive Approach to Spine Health Sets Hoag Apart

At the Hoag Spine Center in Newport Beach, one call delivers it all.

The board-certified, fellowship-trained neurosurgeons at Hoag Spine Center, part of the Pickup Family Neurosciences Institute, consistently deliver cutting-edge surgical treatment options, including spinal navigation – not unlike using GPS in your car — and robot-assisted surgery. Many times, however, some of the best spine care Hoag neurosurgeons deliver has nothing to do with surgery at all.

Viewing surgery as a “last resort” whenever possible, Hoag’s neurosurgeons work collaboratively with specialists from a range of areas including physical medicine and rehabilitation, pain management, dietary health, physical therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic medicine. And it all starts with one call to the Hoag Spine Center’s dedicated nurse navigator.

“People who come to us with debilitating back pain are often surprised to hear our neurosurgeons say they might not need surgery,” said Burak Ozgur, M.D., chief of service for the Hoag Spine Center. “In many cases, physical therapy, pain management and weight loss can help people avoid back surgery altogether.”

Hoag’s state-of-the-art facilities and technology are put to service not only for surgery, but also for diagnoses and non-surgical, or minimally invasive treatment. This means that patients like Bobby Cha who come to Hoag due to the hospital’s reputation as a leader in spine health find they are able to resolve their issues without surgery.

“I’m an avid golfer, but back pain stopped me from doing what I loved,” said Cha. “My pain was so bad, I had to be hospitalized and initially it seemed surgery was my only option. Dr. Ozgur immediately dispelled that notion and his entire team – everyone at Hoag, in fact – came together to provide outstanding care that gave me and my family peace of mind. Today, I’m back to golfing and living my life without back pain and without surgery.”

Many Hoag Spine Center patients are impressed with the way they can easily experience a continuum of care. One call to the dedicated spine nurse navigator provides access to a comprehensive range of care, tailored to their needs. The navigator helps coordinate each patient’s journey, from initial phone call to coordinating care and through surgery if ultimately needed.

Of course, patients who require surgery are in some of the best hands in the nation, including Dr. Ozgur, Robert Louis, M.D.; Vivek Mehta, M.D.; Daniel Yanni, M.D., F.A.A.N.S.; Pawel Jankowski, M.D., and William Dobkin, M.D. Hoag’s neurosurgeons are trained in evaluating spine problems as more than just a part of the skeleton, but in a way that preserves and protects the spinal cord and nerves. This comprehensive and customized approach leads to better outcomes.

Hoag was ranked within the top 10% in the nation for neurology & neurosurgery and spine fusion by U.S. News & World Report.

Should a patient need surgery, Hoag has some of the most advanced equipment in the nation, which combined with the minimally invasive techniques and precision of the neurosurgeons, reduces potential complications and the recovery time associated with surgery.

Yet even with these advanced surgical techniques at its disposal, Hoag maintains a conservative approach.

“As proud as we are of the cutting-edge surgical approaches we provide, we look forward to seeing our non-surgical, minimally invasive and rehabilitation services continue to grow,” Dr. Ozgur said. “Because no one wants back surgery if they can avoid it.”

Whether you require surgery or not, Hoag is an all-inclusive spine health destination, and one call to our dedicated nurse navigator sets your comprehensive care in motion.

To speak to our dedicated nurse navigator, call 949-764-1411.