Our Doctors have a passion for helping their back pain patients using the SpineMED®Decompression System. We want to celebrate their successes- clinical and financial, by sharing their stories with you.
We’ve also taken the time to profile a few of our docs who have enjoyed success with SpineMED®Decompression:
“We instituted SpineMED® Decompression Therapy in our practice 6 years ago. We have had great successes with many of our long term chronic patients. When we began our practic of Wellness care 27 years ago our idea was to promote alternative non-invasive healthcare. We envisioned all our patients routinely coming in for complimentary supportive care, wow has health care changed.
Our neighborhood has demanded that we offer a solution to drugs, surgery, pain management and allopathic medicine. Patients now want the full spectrum of Nutrition, Specific Chiropractic Care, Neuromuscular Therapy, Rehabilitation and Spinal Decompression.
There is more competition for the out of pocket health care dollar. The SpineMED® Decompression Therapy has given our office that leading competitive edge over other less advanced imitators. We usually have one or two new SpineMED® patients per week. We have many returning patients that have used all other types of care from acupuncture to epidural injections which only provides temporary respite from the pain.
SpineMED® Decompression Therapy offers true structure correction from disc bulging, protrusion and herniation. It also is exceptional with spinal stenosis due to hypertrophy of the ligament flavum, when the cause of the pressure is the ligament flavum upon the thecal sac surrounding the spinal cord. We also have the cervical decompression and this adds to the impressive ability to decompress the cervical spine to help with brachial neuritis, disc degeneration and joint capsule damage from auto accidents. All patients with serious disc, ligamentus and structural problems should try SpineMED® Decompression Therapy before entertaining a possible spinal disc surgery. Lower lumbar spinal surgery fail rate is extremely high with follow-up surgery usually needed, as other discs above and below the surgery become overused.
We are very enthusiastic about our SpineMED® Decompression Therapy and I’m glad we have an option to be the spinal disc experts in our demanding neighborhood.”
Sincerely,
Dexter D. DiMarco, D.C., C.Ad
Family Wellness and Chiropractic Center of W. Lake Worth
3938 Pinehurst Drive
Lake Worth, FL 33467
“Our first experience with decompression* was with another popular table in the industry. We have a large practice and Chiropractic is our passion. We did not see how the table would fit with our time and literally fit into our current space. We decided to check out SpineMED® by sending Dr. Davis to a seminar in Baltimore. At the time, he was “sold” on the other table and firmly believed in no other.
Much to our surprise, that Saturday he called us from Baltimore and told us we were ordering SpineMED® or he was gone. Considering how closed-minded he went in, we gave him the go ahead to order it that day. Probably the best advantage of SpineMED® is the ease of incorporating it into the practice. Set-up time is minimal and the results are reliable.
I estimate about 30% of the patients we see on SpineMED® we would not be able to treat on other tables. It uses significantly less force and is without a doubt the most comfortable and least intimidating machine in the industry. Regardless of the doctor or assistant that sets the patient up on the machine, it always feels the same to the patient. That is definitely not true of the others.
Financially, it has been a tremendous opportunity. We have increased our monthly collections by 30%-40% and are making a unbelievable changes in the lives of so many people. ”
Sincerely,
Tom Gehrmann, D.C.
Atlas Chiropractic
5490 Powers Center Pt
Colorado Springs, CO 80920
“After conducting research into the efficany of spinal decompression, it became quite evident that SpineMED® was a market leader in many respects.
I have a practice in Escondido, California. Instituting SpineMED®, I felt confident about this treatment option in terms of providing another method of care for my patients. My staff, with minimal training, has been able to set up patients and assist them with the procedure. It is extremely easy to operate and the pelvic restraints produce a very replicable and consistent hip capture. Additionally, the SpineMED® machine fits into a small area and, aesthetically, is more attractive than the larger and bulky DRX-9000.
SpineMED® has become a very successful adjunct to my offices, and I am pleased to be able to offer this mode of treatment to my patients. The insurance carriers are not involved in the transactions at this point, making the settlement of charges easily accomplished. I am very pleased with SpineMED® and would recommend it to other practitioners seeking to assist their patient.
Sincerely,
Jose Veliz, M.D.
Palomar Pain Management Center
255 North Elm St – Suite 101
Escondido, CA 92025
“I have been in practice in Naples, FL since 1988. I have a very successful Chiropractic office and my primary concern is to help my patients regain optimum health and wellness and to lead an active life style that is pain free. I have always been open to integrating new technologies if it can benefit my patients. I had my first experience with spinal decompression when one of my new patients asked if that was one of the services I offered. I did some research on spinal decompression, and got excited by its efficacy. I knew I could better serve my patients by being able to offer spinal decompression. The next step was for me to find out which decompression machine was the best. After much research I came to the conclusion that I would buy either a SpineMED® or a VAX-D table.
Later that year, I traveled to Baltimore for a weekend seminar and was very impressed with how well the machine worked, the level of comfort for the patient, and how well I was treated. My major concern was the “fee for service” aspect of it; but considering the reaction of my patients and seeing their commitment to improving their quality of life, it has been a huge success. I could not be happier with the results I am getting with my patients. Utilizing SpineMED® for the treatment of the many difficult disc pathologies, I can say that between 70-90% of my decompression patients are getting significantly better, and many say that their back and neck pain has been completely eliminated.
Generally we have 40 to 50 new patients each month. Many of current and new patients are quality SpineMED® candidates. My patients who have experienced good results from their treatments are “walking testimonials” to other patients who may need it. They share how much their lives have improved since receiving the decompression treatments. The technology of the table combined with the stellar customer service we provide in our office has made this relationship fruitful from the start.”
Sincerely,
Ramon A Gonzalez, DC
Dr. Ramon A. Gonzalez & Associates
5617 Naples Blvd
Naples, FL 34109
“I opened my practice in 1996. We offer our patients general rehab, physical therapy, accu-puncture, massage therapy, psychotherapy and various modalities.
I was first introduced to spinal decompression at a medical conference in 1997 where Vax-D was exhibiting. Adding decompression therapy completely changed my practice by creating an effective alternative to back surgery for discogenic patients who were not responding to traditional conservative or interventional therapies. However, the harness system was very antiquated, uncomfortable, and would constantly shift during sessions- it was difficult to produce consistent results.
With the SpineMED® it’s a completely different ballgame. We see consistent results regardless of who set the patient up in the office. The SpineMED® is easier to use and more comfortable for the patient. The restraints don’t slip and SpineMED® allows us to focus the forces more locally so we only use about ½ the force of the older machines. With SpineMED®, 80%-90% of patients end up with good to excellent results.
I offer SpineMED® independent of insurance. It’s very unusual for someone to refuse SpineMED®solely because it’s not covered. 75% of patients who present with the right indications actually sign on and prepay. SpineMED® has made a huge difference in my practice, both in enhancing patient care and helping the bottom line.”
Sincerely,
Richard Bernstein, D.O.
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
28 Seascape Village
Aptos, CA 95003
“I worked in an orthopedic, physical medicine and physical therapy clinic for 18 years and treated 35,000 patients, most of whom had spinal pain. I am intimately familiar with administering and referring patients for conventional treatments for difficult back and neck pain and pathology. Like all clinicians, I have been frustrated.
With the SpineMED® table, I now treat patients all day long that we couldn’t help before – they were instead sent off to surgery or pain clinics. The vast majority improve with SpineMED® satisfactorily. If you treat serious spinal pathology, you will be surprised with the clinical responses of patients to this simple conceptual procedure. I can’t imagine working without this procedure. I think it is as essential to offer this procedure as epidurals and surgery. I consider the exclusion of this procedure a dereliction by providers. It treats what ails most spines – the progressive, degenerative, compression that is the natural history of the spine.
During my due diligence regarding non-surgical decompression treatment and the various tables, I spoke to several clinicians who have used several tables. I concluded that SpineMED® was the most intelligently conceived, designed and engineered. Since I actually administer the procedure, I also appreciate the superior ease of utility of the SpineMED® System. Your staff will appreciate it too. It’s easier, quicker and reproducible. I have also had patients that have been on the other tables – they have preferred SpineMED®.
I encourage other spinal clinicians to improve the treatment algorithm for patients by including SpineMED® as the predominant treatment approach to degenerative, compressive spinal pain. I use it liberally because it directly treats the cause of most spinal pain. If you are familiar with the research validating disc distraction as a regenerative impetus for disc disease, you simply must have this treatment modality. The massive epidemiologic problem of spinal degeneration demands rational management. Spinal compression must be acknowledged as etiologic in spinal pain and must be treated with physical reversal of the process.
I have two tables now and hope to need eight one day. You’ll make the world a better place for your spinal patients if you provide them with this wonderful option.
Sincerely,
Craig Castanet, DC
Backstrong Non-surgical Rehab Clinic
1901 Montreal St, Suite 126
Tucker, GA 30084
“After graduating from Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine and practicing 4 years of military medicine, I returned to OSU to found the university’s first omm treatment clinic for student and residential rotations. It was here that I incorporated SpineMED® and successfully treated over 100 discogenic pain patients.
In fact, I went through the SpineMED® procedure myself at OSU. I had taken medication for my pain for years and had made the decision to have spine surgery in ’99. While the surgery was successful in getting me off the narcotics, the pain never really went away. I continued to have pain going down through my foot.
I first became interested in SpineMED® Decompression when I went to a medical conference in Reno and the SpineMED® reps allowed me to get on the table for a 30 minute session. To my surprise, 70% of my pain disappeared from just that one session and lasted an entire month. That’s when I knew that this procedure could really help a lot of people in pain without surgery or drugs.
I talked to OSU about offering non-surgical decompression and brought in the SpineMED® System in 2006. Before completing the procedure myself, I had a pain level of 6-8. Upon completion, my pain was down to 0 and I was back to playing golf. The results were similar for every patient I treated.
I am now a family medicine doctor at Hill Crest Hospital in Tulsa, OK and have a private practice omm clinic where I continue to help people with the SpineMED® System.”
Sincerely,
Larry Ellis, D.O.
6465 S. Yale – Ste. 804
Tulsa, OK 74136
“I received my doctorate of Osteopathic Medicine from the University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine in Kansas City, MO. I am board certified in the field of pain medicine, independent medical exams, and double boarded in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation.
I practice Interventional Physical Medicine at Fort Wayne Neurological Center. We are known to offer our patients the most advanced, comprehensive and accessible spinal care in the tri-state region. Our NeuroSpine and Pain Institute is one of nine specialized patient focused centers of care that we’ve established. It is here that we offer SpineMED® Decompression, among many other non-surgical treatment options.
I’m an Osteopath, so I already practice manipulation and thus have been very familiar with decompression for some time now. The concept is over a hundred years old. I’ve been a physician since before the first automated table came out; I’ve always known that decompression can actually help improve and restore the mechanics of the spine.
My partner and I looked at quite a few different systems; we went to see several at production facilities and active physician practice settings. We decided on the SpineMED® System because it is a true second generation unit and is superior to the older systems like the DRX and AccuSpina.
Essentially, we brought non-surgical decompression into our practice to fill a niche. We have seven neurosurgeons on staff, so we can perform spinal surgery when absolutely necessary. Ideally, we try to fix problems in the spine mechanically, without surgery, by combining medications, spinal injections and exercise. Non-surgical decompression was the key remaining niche left to fill. We now offer our patients ALL options. SpineMED® completed the spectrum.
Since then, we’ve literally had hundreds of patients on the SpineMED® and the response is almost universal. Everyone thinks it’s great. 90% of our SpineMED® patients have experienced significant improvement. This includes many failed back and complex treatment cases. Even in the rare event where it’s failed, people have been very pleased and glad they gave it a try.
Offering SpineMED® has also increased our practice’s patient inflow. We have patients who come into our practice, specifically for SpineMED®, from other family doctors, pain and spine physicians that don’t offer non-surgical decompression. Sometimes SpineMED® candidates might also benefit from a spinal injection or medication that treats the inflammatory aspect of the problem. We have patients that come in thinking that they’re a candidate, but they are not for whatever reason. At that point, we’re still able to offer them other treatment options.
Lately, we’ve been very busy with SpineMED® patients, though occasionally it has been slow. We typically treat about 6-9 patients a day, its been as low as 3. We have a full time SpineMED® technician, plus the machine is technically owned by the entire group, so we pay a monthly lease on it. Even with the overhead and monthly lease payments, a Cost Analysis has shown that we come out on top, even during the slowest months.
I think it’s important to offer non-surgical spinal decompression once you’ve identified the need for it. If you’re considering non-surgical decompression for your practice, I’d recommend SpineMED®.”
Professionally,
