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region coping with back and neck pain, herniated disks and diseases of the spine. "The delivery of spine care includes not only surgery but also nonsurgical treatments for patients with spine-related conditions," Dr. Perkins says. "We wanted to consolidate our treatment programs and develop a more concise, accessible pathway for patients from imaging and diagnosis to treatment. Patients with pain can be inappropriately referred or unable to see a surgeon for consultation, so the idea was to streamline the process and make the patient experience better by providing faster, more effective spine care." As a partner in private practice with Dr. Perkins, Dr. Dentico understood the value of creating a Spine Center. "Dr. Perkins and I treat the majority of spine cases at Northern Dutchess Hospital and in the greater area, so it made sense for us to join forces and provide a more com- prehensive spine program," Dr. Dentico says. "This is an opportunity for a private practice and a community institution to collaborate and provide a streamlined service for patients with back and neck pain. Seeking care can be intimidating, considering all of the possible spine treat- ments and different resources available, and we want to help patients get the most appropriate care for their conditions." Expediting Spine Care An orthopedic-trained nurse navigator coordinates patient care at the Spine Center. The coordinator serves as a direct point of contact for patients referred to or seeking care at the Spine Center for back and neck pain associated with injuries, arthritis, disc herniation, sciatica or other conditions associated with the cervical, thoracic or lumbar spine. Within the Spine Center program, patient calls are returned within one business day, and appointments with clinicians are set up in a timely manner "The nurse navigator conducts the initial interview with patients and records their symptoms, the duration of their back and spine pain and the imaging required," Dr. Perkins says. "Then all of the patient history and information can "The spine care algorithm includes nonsurgical and surgical treatments, and we have a full complement of coordinated services at the Northern Dutchess Spine Center to better serve patients of the mid Hudson Valley." — Richard Perkins, MD, spine surgeon, Spine Center at Northern Dutchess Hospital PHYSICIAN LEADERSHIP STRENGTHENS SPINE CENTER RICHARD PERKINS, MD BOARD CERTIFIED IN orthopedic surgery and with more than 10 years experience, Dr. Perkins performs a wide array of both minimally invasive and traditional open spinal surgeries. A former San Francisco Spine Institute Surgical Fellow, Dr. Perkins is a partner in private practice with Dr. Dentico at Orthopedic Associates of Dutchess County. He focuses on adult spinal disease. "In orthopedics and spine surgery, you can really change people's lives," he says. "The results only 24 hours after a procedure can be tremendously dramatic, and that's certainly gratifying." RICHARD DENTICO, MD A BOARD-CERTIFIED PHYSICAL medicine and rehabilitation specialist, Dr. Dentico is a graduate of New York Medical College. After completing a sports medicine fellowship at Atlantic Health System, Dr. Dentico has been in private practice at Orthopedic Associates of Dutchess County since 2010. Aside from his role at the Spine Center, Dr. Dentico also lectures in the community. His most recent published work discusses cervical radicu- lopathy in rehabilitation medicine. "I have a strong professional relationship with my fellow clinicians, and that is the groundwork for a strong Spine Center," Dr. Dentico says. "Our collaboration and communication truly optimize spine care for our patients." Dr. Dentico explains spinal anatomy to a patient at Northern Dutchess Hospital. M D N E W S . CO M ■ MD NEWS Mid Hudson | 1 5