Dr. Chris Sliva shared some tips for patients during Patient Safety Awareness Week - March 8 -14 - on WREX-TV.
Rockford Spine Center is promoting awareness of patient safety during the national awareness week March 8-14.
Expert Beacon published an article from Dr. Christopher Sliva on the dos and don'ts of choosing a spine surgeon.
Rockford Spine Center (RSC) is pleased to announce Dr. Christopher Sliva and Dr. Marie Walker have been recognized as Castle Connolly Top Doctors.
Dr. Michael Roh traveled with Global Spine Outreach to Colombia in December 2014 on a medical mission trip to perform complex spine surgeries.
Rockford Spine Center’s Dr. Michael Roh recently shared his expertise and services on a medical mission trip to Cali, Colombia. Dr. Roh is pictured above in the white coat on the far left with members of the GSO medical team and local doctors as they watch a patient proudly show off a push up.
Dr. Roh joined Global Spine Outreach (GSO) on what marked the 25th successive spine mission to help patients with severe spinal deformities. During the week-long trip from November 29 to December 6, 2014, a team of volunteer spine surgeons and other medical professionals saw 70 patients and performed 12 severe spinal deformity surgeries. All of the surgeries and follow-up care are provided free to the patients.
“This mission was an amazing experience and I thank GSO for inviting me to join the team,” said Dr. Roh. “Not only were we able to impact the lives of many children, but we were able to teach the local surgeons some new techniques in treating similar cases going forward.”
“It was such a pleasure to have Dr. Roh on this recent mission trip to our hospital,” said Dr. Juan Uribe, Neurosurgeon, Fundacion Clinica Valle Del Lili. “He raised our game and taught us some techniques that allow us to do procedures more effectively and safely for our patients. We have built a strong friendship and hope we will work together again in the future.”
Click here to view more photos from Dr. Roh's mission trip.
Rockford Spine Center is the first practice in the U.S. to install a wireless Samsung Dual Detector GC80 X-ray machine. RSC shared the story on WIFR-TV and WREX-TV in Rockford, IL. The technology lowers radiation exposure to patients by 30-50 percent, offers a higher quality image to aide in proper diagnosis and creates greater efficiency by speeding up processing time.
Click here to watch the WREX story
Click here to watch the WIFR story
Rockford Spine Center (RSC) recently installed a new Samsung digital X-ray machine that improves patient safety and digital photo quality to aide in diagnosis of spinal conditions. The Samsung Dual Detector GC80 is a wireless robotic system that on average lowers the radiation dose to patients by 30-50 percent while still providing a superior digital photo. Rockford Spine Center is the first in Illinois to utilize the wireless Samsung technology.
Since its inception in 1895, X-ray technology has been a useful tool for physicians in diagnosing conditions and getting a glimpse inside a patient’s body. “Our number one goal is giving patients their lives back and it all starts with the proper diagnosis,” said Dr. Fred Sweet, fellowship-trained spine surgeon, Rockford Spine Center. “X-ray images are an important tool in determining a course of treatment.”
The winter edition of Northwest Quarterly Magazine highlights Rockford Spine Center and all of the exciting things happening at the practice to advance spinal care.
Click here to read the story online.
Dr. Fred Sweet of Rockford Spine Center earned an opportunity to present results of a study he conducted earlier this year at the Scoliosis Research Society (SRS) Annual Meeting & Course. More than 1,300 people attended the SRS annual meeting, which took place September 10-13, 2014 in Anchorage, Alaska.
Dr. Sweet continues to study the effectiveness of a technique he devised to lower infection rates following surgery and decrease the amount of antibiotic resistant bacteria. Current standard of care requires that patients be given an intravenous antibiotic prior to surgery to prevent infections. The surgeons at Rockford Spine Center have demonstrated that placing a powder version of the drug directly into the wound is more effective at reducing infection rates. In fact, the rate was lowered from a national average of 2.4% to 0.2%.
The method also aids in the effort to curb the growth of antibiotic resistant bacteria, which President Obama recently signed an executive order to create a task force to combat this issue.
Click below to view the press release
Dr. Michael Roh participated in a panel discussion about the state of healthcare in Rockford at the 2014 Rockford Chamber Healthcare Luncheon. If you missed the event, you can watch the video at the below link.
2014 Rockford Chamber Healthcare Update Video
Dr. Michael Roh participated in the 2014 Rockford Chamber Healthcare Industry Update luncheon. The Rockford Chamber recapped the event featuring Dr. Roh as part of a panel of local specialists.
Click here to read the December issue of the Voice
Dr. Fred Sweet shared Rockford Spine Center's innovative method to reduce surgical infections and antibiotic resistant bacteria on WIFR-TV. Dr. Sweet says we are running out of medications to fight the new strains of bacteria that are continually developing. A new method to lower surgical infections created in Rockford can also aide in fighting antibiotic resistant bacteria. Dr. Sweet recently shared this story on WIFR-TV.
Click here to watch the 5pm story on WIFR-TV
Click here to watch the 10pm story on WIFR-TV
Dr. Marie Walker has published an article on ExpertBeacon that shares the dos and don'ts of seeing a doctor for back and neck pain. Many people struggle with the decision of seeing a physician, thinking the pain will go away on its own. Dr. Walker shares her expertise in an effort to help you make the decision that is right for you.
Click here to read the article.
Dr. Michael Roh was a featured panelist at the Rockford Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Industry Update luncheon on November 20, 2014. The event focused on the important role specialty group practitioners play in the local healthcare landscape. Dr. Roh engaged in dialogue about trends and impacts in healthcare as well as discussed the local healthcare industry and its relationship to the broader business community. Dr. Roh highlighted the level of care available to patients in Rockford - across the healthcare spectrum.
The Rockford Register Star released its annual What Rocks in the Rock River Valley poll and Dr. Christopher Sliva was voted favorite spine surgeon in the region.
Click here to see the full list of What Rocks winners.
Rockford Spine Center Physical Therapist Phil Oliveri discusses the role of physical therapy on WQRF-TV during Physical Therapy Awareness Month. Oliveri also demonstrates some simple exercises people can do every day to increase flexibility and mobility.
Click here to watch the video.
Neck or back pain, sciatica, or pinched nerves can take over your life. Often times resulting in a feeling of hopelessness. Want to learn more about what treatments work without the hassle of making a doctor’s appointment? Dr. Fred Sweet is hosting a free community spine care seminar at Rockford Spine Center. This event is free and all are welcome. Dr. Sweet will discuss common spinal problems, treatment options and answer your questions. Refreshments will be served.
Thursday, November 6
5:30 to 7 p.m.
Rockford Spine Center
2902 McFarland Road
#300
Rockford, IL 61107
Please RSVP to Hollie at 815-316-6873.
Rockford Spine Center’s three partners have been featured on the 2014 Becker’s Spine Review 240 Spine Surgeons to Know list published last week. Dr. Michael Roh, Dr. Christopher Sliva and Dr. Fred Sweet are the only spine surgeons from Rockford on the list and among 23 listed from Illinois.
Click here to view the entire list.
Rockford Spine Center Physiatrist Dr. Marie Walker has been voted as favorite preceptor for the second year in a row by the University of Illinois College of Medicine family practice residents. The recognition was for the 2013-2014 school year.
Third year family practice residents rotate each month through roughly 12 medical specialties. At the end of each year the residents vote for their favorite preceptor, or mentor. Dr. Walker has been a required orthopedic rotation for three years. The residents see patients under Dr. Walker’s guidance. She teaches them about orthopedic and spinal conditions and they learn how to perform injections.
“I’m honored the residents appreciate my teaching and that they look forward to this rotation,” said Dr. Walker, Rockford Spine Center. “Being involved in this program is extremely rewarding for me. When you’re teaching people who are excited and really want to learn, it’s fun.”
Wednesday, September 17 is National School Backpack Awareness Day. According to the American Occupational Therapy Association, each year there are thousands of backpack-related injuries treated at hospital emergency rooms, doctor’s offices, and clinics. Overloading backpacks or carrying them on one shoulder can strain the back, neck or shoulders.
Rockford Spine Center offers the following tips to keep your kids healthy and safe this school year.
Dr. Fred Sweet has a guest column in the September 2014 issue of the Rockford Chamber Voice. He discusses the excellent quality of healthcare available in the Rockford community.
Click here to read the column
Our beloved patient Mark, who has been diagnosed with ALS, challenged Dr. Marie Walker and Cindy Nyquist to the ALS ice bucket challenge. They happily accepted the challenge - and the sequence of ice water dumping began. Check out the below videos featuring Dr. Fred Sweet and several members of the RSC team. We think this is a great cause and promotes awareness for a devastating disease!
Click here to watch Dr. Walker and Cindy
Click here to watch Dr. Sweet
Click here to watch Lucy and Val
Dr. Marie Walker discussed ALS and its prevalence in Northern Illinois on WTVO-TV and WIFR-TV. Rockford appears to have a concentration of cases higher than most areas.
Click here to watch the story on WTVO.
Click here to watch the story on WIFR, which also includes the RSC team accepting the ice bucket challenge.