Theresa Larivee
PHILADELPHIA — As one of the most common disease conditions in the United Sates, spine and back issues can interfere in many people’s lives. In fact, research has shown that back pain can affect eight in 10 people at some time in their lives. To meet the needs of these patients, and provide more options for innovative, integrated care, Penn Medicine has announced the opening of a new Spine Center at Pennsylvania Hospital—providing patient visits, surgical and nonsurgical treatments, pain management, and imaging under one roof.
The center, a $10 million facility, combines access to both outpatient and inpatient spine care, bringing a higher level of continuity of services for patients. With evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment in one location, patients can receive their care more efficiently and more conveniently.
“Penn has the largest team dedicated to spine treatment in the region—a team driven by research and personalized treatment plans for each patient, guiding them from diagnosis through recovery,” said Theresa Larivee, CEO of Pennsylvania Hospital. “Here at the nation’s first hospital, we’re bringing together a multidisciplinary team, representing a vision for the future of care for patients that no other health system in the region can match.”
William C. Welch, MD
The Penn Spine Center at Pennsylvania Hospital builds on Penn Medicine’s network of spine and pain care experts, with specialists from neurosurgery, orthopedics, neurology, physical medicine, pain management, radiology, among others on site. Virtual visits, such as post-operative checkup appointments, will also be offered by physicians at this location.
“Our physicians, nurse practitioners, and staff collaborate with a team based approach when caring for spine patients, working together to deliver the best treatment options possible for each of our patients,” added William C. Welch, MD, medical director of the Penn Spine Center at Pennsylvania Hospital and chair of the department of Neurosurgery at Pennsylvania Hospital. “Increasing the efficiency of treatment will help get patients back on their feet as quickly as possible—while also reducing some of the financial burden that spine disorders can place on patients and their families.”
Penn Medicine’s spine program treats patients at a variety of locations throughout the region, from Central Pennsylvania to New Jersey. Now, with the Penn Spine Center at Pennsylvania Hospital, patients can receive their care right in the heart of Center City.
Penn Medicine is one of the world’s leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, excellence in patient care, and community service. The organization consists of the University of Pennsylvania Health System and Penn’s Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine, founded in 1765 as the nation’s first medical school.
The Perelman School of Medicine is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $550 million awarded in the 2022 fiscal year. Home to a proud history of “firsts” in medicine, Penn Medicine teams have pioneered discoveries and innovations that have shaped modern medicine, including recent breakthroughs such as CAR T cell therapy for cancer and the mRNA technology used in COVID-19 vaccines.
The University of Pennsylvania Health System’s patient care facilities stretch from the Susquehanna River in Pennsylvania to the New Jersey shore. These include the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, Chester County Hospital, Lancaster General Health, Penn Medicine Princeton Health, and Pennsylvania Hospital—the nation’s first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional facilities and enterprises include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, Penn Medicine at Home, Lancaster Behavioral Health Hospital, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, among others.
Penn Medicine is an $11.1 billion enterprise powered by more than 49,000 talented faculty and staff.