Spine Center - Spinechart Prospective Outcome Database
At USC Neurosurgery Spine Center, our goal is to be at the forefront of clinical and basic science research in non-surgical and surgical treatments of spine diseases. To continue our mission to be a national leader in the treatment of spinal disorders, we have invested in a sophisticated computer-based outcome tracking system known as Spinechart. Spinechart is a simple, user-friendly program that allows us to assess the patients' function and quality of life prior to and following surgery. The program will ask the patient a series of questions based on his symptoms or problems, and the answers can be provided by tapping on a computer screen or clicking on a mouse. This data, provided by patients themselves, contributes to ongoing quality clinical research at USC. Oftentimes advanced surgical technology and techniques do not have a long track record. A non-biased and patient-based research database allows us to assess the effectiveness of these cutting-edge treatments to improve patient outcomes.
We understand that this requires an investment of your time, but this data is highly valuable and will ultimately lead to better treatments for yourself and other patients. We kindly ask that all patients at the USC Neurosurgery Spine Center invest the time to complete the questionnaire before and after surgery to support this project. For your convenience, an internet-based Spinechart survey can be completed prior to your visit. For those patients that do not have access to the internet or require assistance, we have provided two computers in our waiting area for you to use to complete the questionnaires prior to your consultation. We believe that the Spinechart database will ultimately lead to safer and more effective treatments for patients with spinal disorders. We sincerely thank you for investing your time and for your continued support for this project.
Department of Neurological Surgery
University of Southern California
1200 N. State Street, Suite 5046
Los Angeles, CA 90033
Phone: 323-226-7421
