UC San Diego Health System Listed among Nation’s Top Neurosurgery and Spine Programs

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University of California, San Diego Health System has been named among “100 Hospitals with Great Neurosurgery and Spine Programs” by Becker's Hospital Review, a news publication for hospital and health system leadership.

According to the Becker's Hospital Review editorial team, these hospitals offer outstanding spine and neurosurgical care, and were selected based on nominations, clinical accolades, quality care and other spine and neurosurgical proficiencies.

“The UC San Diego Neurological Institute is proud to have its neurosurgery program recognized as a leading program in complex brain and spine care,” said Bob Carter, MD, PhD, professor of surgery at UC San Diego School of Medicine, and chief of neurosurgery at UC San Diego Health System. “We have been fortunate to attract an outstanding cadre of neurosurgeons to UC San Diego who specialize in every form of neurosurgery, from minimally invasive techniques to the most complex spine and brain surgery.”

Bob Carter, MD, PhD, chief of neurosurgery

These hospitals have been recognized for excellence in this specialty by reputable healthcare rating resources, including U.S. News & World Report, HealthGrades, Truven Health Analytics, Blue Cross Blue Shield Distinction Centers for Spine Surgery, Delta Group CareChex and the American Nurses Credentialing Center.

Carter, who was recruited from Harvard in 2010, noted that a special emphasis has been placed on developing programs that require a multidisciplinary team-based approach. 

“We have been fortunate to partner with our colleagues in neurology and other specialties to create 'Centers of Excellence' in brain tumors, spine and peripheral nerve restoration surgery, stroke and aneurysms, Parkinson’s disease, pediatric neurosurgery and skull base/pituitary surgery.  These centers mean that patients are offered all forms of treatment, both surgical and non-surgical, in one setting.”

The neurosurgery program has more than 30 neurosurgeons dedicated to the care of all forms of brain and neurological disease.  In 2012, UC San Diego Health System became one of the first facilities in the country to be certified as a Comprehensive Stroke Center (CSC), the newest level of certification for advanced stroke care awarded by The Joint Commission.

Patients and families who would like to learn more about the neurosurgery program at UC San Diego Health System may visit: http://health.ucsd.edu/specialties/neuro/Pages/default.aspx