Description: 

The Spine Advisory Group (SAG) is a physician-led forum dedicated to advancing high-quality, evidence-based spine care across Sutter Health. The SAG engages spine surgeons and APCs in the development, refinement, and alignment of spine program initiatives including clinical standards, care pathways, perioperative best practices, and quality improvement efforts. Through peer-to-peer dialogue and shared expertise, the group supports coordinated spine care delivery across the system.

Target Audience:

Nurse Practitioner (NP)

Physicians (MD or DO)

Other Healthcare Professionals

Physical Therapist

Learning Objectives: 

Across the Spine Advisory Group sessions, participants will be able to:

1. Evaluate current evidence-based clinical pathways for common spinal disorders and apply best practices to improve consistency in spine care delivery.

2. Analyze quality metrics and patient-reported outcome measures in spine surgery and incorporate outcome data into clinical decision-making and program improvement.

3. Critically assess emerging spine technologies and surgical techniques to determine appropriate indications and evidence-based adoption.

Assembly Bills 1195 & 241- Culturally Appropriate Care which is Free of Implicit Biases:

Learners are strongly encouraged to engage in self-directed learning related to the impact of implicit biases in this clinical area via the references provided below:

SDOH

Cartagena-Reyes, M. A., Gupta, M., Roy, J. M., Solomon, E., Yenokyan, G., Fogam, L., ... & Jain, A. (2024). Gender diversity at spine surgery academic conferences: a 15-year investigation. The Spine Journal, 24(8), 1369-1377. - LINK TO ARTICLE

Reyes, S. G., Bajaj, P. M., Alvandi, B. A., Kurapaty, S. S., Patel, A. A., & Divi, S. N. (2023). Impact of social determinants of health in spine surgery. Current reviews in musculoskeletal medicine, 16(1), 24-32. - LINK TO ARTICLE

Mohanty, S., Lad, M. K., Casper, D., Sheth, N. P., & Saifi, C. (2022). The impact of social determinants of health on 30 and 90-day readmission rates after spine surgery. JBJS, 104(5), 412-420. - LINK TO ARTICLE

Yap, Z. L., Summers, S. J., Grant, A. R., Moseley, G. L., & Karran, E. L. (2022). The role of the social determinants of health in outcomes of surgery for low back pain: a systematic review and narrative synthesis. The Spine Journal, 22(5), 793-809. - LINK TO ARTICLE

Disclosure of Financial or In-Kind Commercial Support & Conflict of Interest

Dr. Rudolph J. Schrot has disclosed consulting relationships with SI-Bone involving education and product development, and professional services with Medtronic involving education. These relevant financial relationships have been reviewed and mitigated through clear role delineation. Dr. Schrot serves as chair of the committee and does not have independent control over case selection, content development, or clinical recommendations. Cases are selected and discussed by a multidisciplinary committee, ensuring balanced, evidence-based, and peer-informed perspectives.

Dr. Tyler G. Smith has disclosed a consulting relationship with ATEC Spine involving proctoring and product development. This relevant financial relationship has been reviewed and mitigated. Dr. Smith does not have independent control over case selection, content development, or clinical recommendations. Content is determined collectively by a multidisciplinary planning committee that includes members without relevant financial relationships.

Dr. Christopher Summa has disclosed consulting relationships with ineligible companies, Globus Medical and Centinel Spine. These relevant financial relationships have been reviewed and mitigated. Dr. Summa does not have independent control over case selection, content development, or clinical recommendations. Content is determined collectively by a multidisciplinary planning committee that includes members without relevant financial relationships.

Dr. Frank Valone III has disclosed consulting relationships with ineligible companies, Alphatec and Medtronic. These relevant financial relationships have been reviewed and mitigated. Dr. Valone does not have independent control over case selection, content development, or clinical recommendations. Content is determined collectively by a multidisciplinary planning committee that includes members without relevant financial relationships.

No one else involved in the planning or presentation of this educational activity have any relevant financial relationship(s) to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. No financial or in-kind commercial support was received to produce or promote this educational activity.   

– Provider Designee/Verification: Fozia Ferozali, Ed.D