they did not have to follow any of the PM&R doctor’s advice. It turned out that consultations with the PM&R doctors decreased back surgery rates in that region by a third, and a survey of these patients showed that they remained very satisfied with care. Most spine surgeons work in isolation from PM&R specialists. However many programs around the country, including some at the University of Michigan, have both physiatrists and surgeons working together. This collaboration makes the surgeon’s life more efficient, and provides patients with a balanced perspective on their treatment choices. The results of this study demonstrate that a mandatory physiatrist consultation prior to surgical consultation resulted in decreased surgical rates and continued patient satisfaction across a large region. Interestingly, although it might be assumed that physiatrists who worked for surgeons would be biased towards surgery, it turned out that surgical rates dropped equally in people who went to those joint clinics.
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Overall, this study reinforces the idea of collaboration for better patient satisfaction: by working together, specialists in surgery and PM&R can provide optimal solutions for people with spine pain.
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