From the first visit to final recovery, this spine surgeon says his job goes beyond the operating room, and he wants referring physicians to know exactly what that commitment looks like in practice.
Dr. Smith, chief of spine surgery at Hoag Orthopedic Institute in Irvine, Calif., shared what he wants referring physicians to know about his work.
Note: This response was lightly edited.
Question: What do you wish referring physicians better understood about the orthopedic care you provide?
Dr. Jeremy Smith: As a spine surgeon, the thing I most wish referring physicians understood is that my goal isn’t to operate to provide excellent, comprehensive care from the first visit through final recovery.
When a patient lands in my office, I approach their problem with the full spectrum of treatment options in mind. Conservative management always comes first when appropriate. I consider the right physical therapy, targeted injections, activity modification because the least invasive path to a good outcome is always the right one.
I’m also genuinely accessible, and their patients can reach me directly. I give out my personal contact information, I respond, and I follow through. In a specialty where anxiety runs high and the stakes are real, that accessibility matters as much as anything I do in the OR.
Technically, I’m committed to the most current, evidence-based approaches, minimally invasive whenever possible, because smaller incisions mean faster recoveries and less risk. And when something needs to be addressed urgently, I address it urgently.
When a referring physician sends me their patient, they should feel confident that person is in the hands of someone who genuinely cares about getting them better not just technically, but as a human being.
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