Bon Secours Spine Institute team
With the large population of boomers and Xers aging, musculoskeletal problems have become almost epidemic. But effective, comprehensive, easily accessed treatment can be hard to find.
The Bon Secours Spine Institute, a brand new state-of-the-art program dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, rehabilitation and prevention of spinal disorders, was created earlier this year.
“It’s a Center of Excellence without walls, and we can now deliver specialty care without patients having to travel to just one location that might be hours away,” said Jed Vanichkachorn, M.D., medical director of orthopedics and spine.
With providers available at six Bon Secours facilities around the Metro Richmond area, the Bon Secours Spine Institute offers a full range of state-of-the-art care, including operative and non-operative pain management, technologically advanced surgery, physical integrated advanced medical technology, multidisciplinary expertise, patient-centered care and cutting-edge research to deliver exceptional outcomes. It has never been easier for patients experiencing complex spine or musculoskeletal disorders to get the care they need.
Holistic care, better outcomes
“Traditionally, care has been provided in a silo, where one provider takes care of the patient, does the best they can, and if the patient doesn’t get better, they have to go find someone else,” said Dr. Vanichkachorn. “What we offer is a multidisciplinary approach.”
The Bon Secours Spine Institute has a dedicated care team that goes beyond the typical practice offerings, including orthopedic/spine surgeons, physician assistants, a physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR) specialist, a nurse navigator and more. Working together, these teams ensure patients receive the complete care they need, and are improving outcomes.
The Spine Institute also uses state-of-the-art surgical technology, such as endoscopy and robotic-assisted surgery, which are minimally invasive and typically result in faster healing. And the care they provide is holistic and individualized to each patient’s needs.
“We look at the whole patient and find the optimal alignment to preserve natural motion and prevent further surgeries down the road,” he said.
The Spine Institute is changing lives
Dr. Vanichkachorn recalled one patient with chronic pain, whose story is all too common.
“This gentleman had had a number of spine procedures done elsewhere, and they had never helped him,” he said. “He wasn’t able to work, was on chronic pain medications and was in danger of losing his house, his wife, his family.”
He first came to the Bon Secours Spine Institute for pain management and a second opinion due to continued disability and difficulty performing normal daily tasks. The physician evaluated the patient and identified the problem as a failed fusion. Treatment began with pre-surgery physical therapy, then Dr. Vanichkachorn performed a reconstruction followed by post-surgery physical therapy.
The patient is now pain free, no longer relies on chronic pain medications, has found a job, was able to keep his home and has healed his relationship with his wife and kids.
“To see a program like this that can really change the trajectory of a person’s life is probably the most rewarding thing I get to experience,” Dr. Vanichkachorn said. “That’s why we get into medicine.”
Easy access, individualized care
To make sure patients get the right care, a nurse navigator will review their chart, note their complaints and the treatments they’ve received and then direct them to the appropriate practitioner.
“This is an exciting innovation,” said Dr. Vanichkachorn. “A patient may make an appointment with a physical therapist, but after reviewing the case, a navigator might say, ‘No, this person should see the surgeon first,’ which really improves efficiency.”
There are multiple avenues for accessing treatment at the Spine Institute. You can schedule an appointment through the website, the Bon Secours’ MyChart portal, or by calling 804.285.2300.
The Bon Secours Spine Institute is available at the following locations across the Richmond region:
- Bon Secours Orthopedics at St. Francis Medical Center
- Bon Secours Orthopedics at Southside Medical Center
- Bon Secours - Tuckahoe Orthopedics at St. Mary’s Hospital
- Bon Secours - Tuckahoe Orthopedics at Memorial Regional Medical Center
- Bon Secours - Tuckahoe Orthopedics at Sauer Center
- Bon Secours - Tuckahoe Orthopedics at Short Pump
For more information, visit bonsecours.com.
