Educational Material/Links

Patient information from Stanley S. Lee, M.D.

Back Pain Information - Choosing Wisely
This is a short, patient friendly article explaining imaging and common treatments for low back pain.
Best Care at Lower Cost: Briefing Slides
This is a summary presentation from the Institutes of Medicine of the National Academies from September 2012 which reported that 30% of the total 2011 US healthcare expenditures or $750 billion was unnecessary care. Recommendations were made for improvement. The link to the full report is below.
Chronic Pain and Opioid Use
This is an excellent, patient directed article discussing chronic opioid use for chronic pain.

Patient education library

Orthopaedic information you can trust from Your Orthopaedic Connection, a service provided by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons.

Recommended Web sites

Best Care at Lower Costs
In September 2012, The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies released a report that in 2011, 30% of US healthcare expenditures or $750 billion was unnecessary. Recommendations were made for developing a Continuously Learning Healthcare System in America.
CBSNews: Tapping into Controversial Back Surgeries
Choosing Wisely - Imaging for Low Back Pain
An initiative of the ABIM Foundation, Choosing Wisely is focused on encouraging physicians, patients and other health care stakeholders to think and talk about medical tests and procedures that may be unnecessary, and in some instances can cause harm.
CMS Charge/Payment Look Up
How much does the local hospital charge? This website has complied recently published data from the Centers for Medicare&Medicaid Services (CMS)on US hospital charges&payments for inpatient and outpatient procedures. Of particular interest to spine patients - MRI, spinal injection, cervical and lumbar fusion, and laminectomy/diskectomy data. Only through price transparency and comparison shopping, can healthcare be held accountable to the Market for delivering pricing value.
CNN: Cash Only Doctors Abandon the Insurance System
Cochrane Summary - Spinal Injections for Back Pain
The Cochrane Collaboration objectively discusses the scientific evidence pertaining to spinal injections for subacute and chronic back pain.
Feds Charge Southfield Doctor Over Unnecessary Spine Surgeries
HBR: Don't Bother Complaining about High Deductible Health Plans
Heralded Medical Treatments often Fail to Live up to Their Promise
JAMA IM: Lumbar MRI Overutilized in Over 50% of Cases
Medscape highlights a recent JAMA IM article studying the appropriateness of lumbar MRI orders. Nearly 56% of the MRI orders were found to be of questionable appropriateness.
LA Times:Back Pain-Doctors Increasingly Ignore Clinical Guidelines
The LA Times highlights a recent JAMA research study on the practice trends of spine physicians between 1999-2010.
Men's Journal: When to Say No to your Doctor
Modern Healthcare: Rethinking Spine Care
Patient Engagement, Negaclaims Can Reposition Health Plans
Scoliosis Research Society
Dr. Stan Lee has been awarded active fellowship as one of approximately 550 active U.S. members in the highly selective Scoliosis Research Society, a professional organization dedicated to research, education, and advancement of the treatment of spinal deformities and the most complex conditions of the spine. This website has information about complex spinal conditions that is firmly grounded on the body of published medical research.
Specialists in Spine Surgery
Stan Lee, M.D. - HealthTap
Stan Lee, M.D. - LinkedIn Profile
Lucent Spine/Dr. Lee posts information useful to B2B clients. Readers of this profile obtain a snapshot of the philosphy of Lucent Spine, PLLC.
The Cashification of Healthcare
TIME: Medicine is About to Get Personal
Twitter - Lucent Spine, PLLC
Lucent Spine tweets articles, information, and comments pertaining to its mission of delivering clarity and objectivity to evidence-based spinal medicine and surgery.
Twitter - Stan Lee, M.D.
Dr. Lee tweets comments, information, and links to articles pertaining to his philosophy of evidence-based medicine, service excellence, and patient choice.
USA Today: Doctors Perform Thousands of Unnecessary Surgeries
USA Today: When Health Care Make You Sick
USA Today published a series of articles detailing the overutilization of tests and procedures. In each article, spine surgery was targeted. There is also an article discussing obtaining a second opinion prior to major surgery.
Washington Post: Rise in Spinal Fusion Tied to Financial Incentives
Article 2 of 2 in The Washington Post discussing the alarming rise in rates spinal fusion over the past decade.
Washington Post: Spinal Fusions, Are They All Necessary?
Article 1 of 2 in The Washington Post discussing the alarming rise in rates spinal fusion over the past decade.

Contact Information

Lucent Spine, PLLC Administrative&Mailing Address Only 3010 Washtenaw Avenue, #A107 Ann Arbor, MI USA 48104 View office Phone 734-70-SPINE Fax 888-847-9525