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Laser Spine Institute Combines Health Care IT and Clinical Expertise to Help Manage Ebola and Other Infection Control Threats in the U.S.
[October 16, 2014]

Laser Spine Institute Combines Health Care IT and Clinical Expertise to Help Manage Ebola and Other Infection Control Threats in the U.S.


TAMPA, Fla. --(Business Wire)--

Laser Spine Institute, the leader in minimally invasive spine surgery, is sharing education about its protocols and procedures set in place to prevent the spread of Ebola at its surgery centers across the United States. National security of the issue is at a heightened awareness and health care providers are having their systems evaluated to ensure safety and quality care.

Laser Spine Institute, the leader in minimally invasive spine surgery, is sharing education about it ...

Laser Spine Institute, the leader in minimally invasive spine surgery, is sharing education about its protocols and procedures set in place to prevent the spread of Ebola at its surgery centers across the United States (Photo: Business Wire)

According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), the 2014 Ebola epidemic is the largest in history, impacting numerous West African countries. The spread of the virus recently reached the United States, through travel-association-and now has infected at least two American citizens on American soil. Laser Spine Institute medical staff is participating in ongoing education provided by the CDC about how to protect the staff and patients from the Ebola and other potential infectious diseases.

"Infection control has been a concern in the U.S. health care system for years and now is the time for the health care industry to unite and share our best practices and protocols to ensure the safety of our employees and patients," said Dotty Bollinger, President and Chief Operating Officer, Laser Spine Institute. "Ebola is not the only disease that patients are at risk for, but it has brought a heightened awareness to the importance of communicating critical information in a timely manner and maintaining a streamlined protocol for infection prevention that is evaluated on an ongoing basis."



Nearly 70 percent of all Laser Spine Institute patients travel to receive the level of care and service offered by the organization. Though any potential spread of the infection within Laser Spine Institute's facilities is unlikely, the company's Vice President of Nursing and ASC (News - Alert) Operations, Nicole Gritton, was quick to implement the necessary precautions and protocols to mitigate risk.

Laser Spine Institute is prescreening all patients who hail from or have traveled to high-risk areas prior to arrival at its facilities located in Tampa, Florida; Scottsdale, Arizona; Philadelphia; and Oklahoma City.


"We live in a society where people are traveling across the globe for treatment from providers across many different settings and access to information is critical to decision-making," Gritton said. "The technology and clinical systems we use provide us with the tools and knowledge to take the necessary transmission-based precautions to ensure the safety of our patients, staff and local communities."

As a leader in the independent health care industry, Laser Spine Institute is encouraging other health care centers to take the same precautions against Ebola and other easily-transmitted viruses.

"At Laser Spine Institute, our patients, employees and communities are our top priority at all times," Gritton said. "We want to work with our local health care partners so we can enhance our patient care and take these extra steps in ensuring safety above all else."

For more information about this topic, visit news.laserspineinstitute.com.

About Laser Spine Institute

Headquartered in Tampa, Florida, Laser Spine Institute currently operates four regional surgery centers across the country, in Tampa, Florida; Scottsdale, Arizona; Philadelphia; and Oklahoma City. Laser Spine Institute has helped more than 50,000 patients find relief from debilitating neck and back pain caused by spinal stenosis, degenerative disc disease, pinched nerves, bone spurs, bulging/herniated discs, sciatica and other chronic conditions. More than 97 percent of patients say they would refer a friend or family member to have surgery at Laser Spine Institute. Additionally, Laser Spine Institute has been repeatedly recognized by Voyance Health as a National APEX Quality Award Winner for outstanding patient satisfaction, and reports an enterprise patient satisfaction rate of more than 96 percent.

Laser Spine Institute has been named a top employer by Modern Health care, Tampa Bay Times, Tampa Bay Business Journal, Philly.com, okc.BIZ and a Most Admired Company by BestCompaniesAZ. Opening in Tampa in 2005 with one operating room and nine employees, Laser Spine Institute now has more than 800 corporate and health care professionals across the country.


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