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Priority Consult
Early Review Provides Effective Results
Priority Consult Process
The neurosurgical service at the Illinois Neurological Institute (INI) has a long history of caring for patients with spinal problems that range from low back pain to disorders requiring complex surgical intervention. Utilizing Priority Consult, a unique triage process developed at the Mayfield Clinic, patients referred to the INI Spine Institute are provided with a rapid neurosurgical opinion rather than waiting weeks or even months for an initial appointment with a spine specialist. For a priority consult please call 877-464-6670.
What to Expect
Upon referral to the INI Spine Institute, patients are contacted by an Intake Specialist who obtains an in-depth spinal history and any pertinent diagnostic studies that have been completed. Once the history and diagnostic testing are available, a neurosurgeon reviews the information and recommends a personalized treatment plan.
Following review by the neurosurgeon, Registered Nurse Care Coordinators educate patients on the surgeon's diagnosis and recommendations. The Care Coordinators facilitate initiation of the treatment plan, which can include an immediate appointment with the surgeon, referral to another specialist, additional diagnostic testing or a course of conservative treatment. The Care Coordinator also follows patients throughout the treatment process and keeps their primary care and referring physicians informed of their progress.
Patient Benefits
This innovative process offers many benefits to our patients.
- Early review by the neurosurgeon ensures patients receive appropriate treatment in a timely manner.
- Patients in need of immediate neurosurgical intervention are identified quickly.
- Those likely to respond to conservative treatment are directed to the correct treatment option.
Not only does this mean faster resolution of symptoms and the likelihood of a better outcome, patients save time and money as the INI Spine Institute offers this service at no cost.
Possible Treatment Options
Since many spinal problems respond to non-surgical treatment, the Spine Institute offers the full spectrum of conservative treatment options, including:
- Physical therapy
- Interventional injections
- Medication trials
Should surgery be necessary, our highly skilled neurosurgical team can provide treatment for even the most complex spinal problems. All of our neurosurgeons perform basic spinal surgery, while some specialize in very complex procedures such as removal of spinal tumors, reconstructive surgery for scoliosis or total disc replacement.
A Board Certified pediatric neurosurgeon provides treatment to children with neurological disorders such as spina bifida. We also provide spinal cord stimulators and surgically implanted pumps for patients who have not responded to other treatment options.
With access to state-of-the-art diagnostic and treatment technology like the TrilogyTM RapidArc Varian Linear Accelerator, the INI Spine Institute is the most comprehensive spine treatment center in the region.
