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Southcoast Hospitals are among the first hospitals in the country to use the recently approved CHARITÉ Artificial Disc replacement to treat severe lower back pain as an alternative to spinal fusion surgery.
Southcoast neurosurgeon Alvin Marcovici, MD, successfully performed Southcoast's first artificial disc replacement in May.
"This is the next generation in spine surgery," Dr. Marcovici said. "The artificial disc is an alternative to spinal fusion in selected patients, currently the standard surgery for treating degenerative disc disease (DDD). Now we are able to offer a select group of patients better motion with fewer short- and long-term complications. It's an exciting time to be a neurosurgeon."
The CHARITÉ Artificial Disc, approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration last October, replaces a damaged or worn out spinal disc with an artificial one.
Artificial disc replacement is offered to qualifying patients at St. Luke's Hospital in New Bedford and Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River. Dr. Marcovici is currently the only neurosurgeon in Southeastern Massachusetts and Rhode Island performing the procedure.
Tobey Hospital dedicates new helipad
Tobey Hospital has a new helipad, marking the completion of the hospital's construction project and increasing the quality of health care available there.
The new helipad, located on the Tobey grounds, will save critical minutes in transport time for patients who need to be transported from the hospital.
The new helipad is quick, safe and one step closer to providing the immediate and critical services the patients of Greater Wareham deserve.
"This new helipad makes transport faster and safer for both patients and the helicopter crew," said Nancy Edwards, MD, Medical Director of Emergency Services at Tobey. "Having a designated, specially-designed area, with FAA-approved lighting and a way to control debris in the landing area, improves conditions for everyone involved."
