Spine Center Faculty / Medical Staff >

The Spine Center is staffed by 14 specialists who focus on spinal disorders, tumors, injuries, and deformities, all drawn from from seven departments within the hospital. They collaborate with each other systematically to provide the most cutting-edge and comprehensive medical services possible. The Spine Center brings together domestically renowned experts in orthopedic surgery, neurosurgery, pain management, physical therapy, neurology, radiology, surgical oncology and chemotherapy to design the most effective treatment for a range of debilitating conditions.

Major areas of treatment

The Spine Center provides health management for spinal deformities, tumors, fractures, infections, and degenerative diseases afflicting the cervical, thoracic, and lumbar spine.
We also offer rehabilitation and interventional pain management to reduce suffering caused by back and neck problems.

Strengths

The Spine Center treats the full spectrum of spinal disorders, from simple to complex. In particular, we have specialized in spinal tumors, both primary and metastatic, and spinal deformities of children and adults such as scoliosis and kyphosis. The SMC Spine Center also specializes in conditions that are difficult to diagnose and treat. The SMC Spine Center is the first spine center in Korea to specialize in spinal tumor surgery, which requires a multidisciplinary approach for proper management.

Clinics

1. Spine Tumor Clinic

As the first spine center in Korea to organize a Spinal Tumor Board, the SMC Spine Center uses a multidisciplinary approach to treat all kinds of spine tumors.
To treat spine tumors effectively we must first diagnosis them correctly, so we have invested in the most advanced diagnostic equipment and techniques available, such as Positron Emission Tomography (PET), Angiography, CT-guided Biopsy, MRI, CT, and whole body bone scanner. Our spine tumor radiologists can also perform the most cutting-edge diagnostic techniques for diagnosis and interventional management. Surgical treatment for spinal tumors can be very complicated, so we employ only the most experienced surgeons, who can perform complex and delicate procedures, such as total en-bloc spondylectomy, total sacrectomy and reconstruction. Our staff specializing in radiation oncology can also perform the most up-to-date radiotherapeutic management, such as SBRI, IMRT and Tomotherapy.

2. Spine Deformity Clinic

The SMC Spine Deformity Clinic treats patients with scoliosis and kyphosis caused by congenital, idiopathic, neuromuscular and degenerative pathologies.
The SMC Spine Center treats more than 100 children with scoliosis every year and performs the largest number of surgeries in Korea on patients with degenerative scoliosis or degenerative flat back. We employ a range of surgical techniques to ensure the best medical outcome possible. At present, we can correct spinal deformities with a range of procedures including but not limited to pedicle subtraction osteotomy (PSO), Smith-Peterson osteotomy (SPO), posterior vertebral column resection (PVCR) and direct vertebral rotation (DVR).

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Patients' Rights and Responsibilities

Patients' Rights

1. Right to receive medical care

Patients have the right to receive proper care in a safe setting without discrimination nor should their right to care be violated regardless of their gender, age, religion, social status, nationality, language, race, or physical/mental/financial status. Medical teams shall not refuse to provide care without justifiable reason.

2. Right to be informed and to make an autonomous decision

Patients have the right to obtain full and complete information from their medical team, to ask questions, and to determine their agreement or refusal concerning: diagnosis, treatment (purpose, plans and methods), outcomes of care (including unanticipated outcomes), discharge plan, participation in medical research studies, organ transplantation/donation, etc. Within ethical boundaries, patients may discontinue or refuse treatment, request that the medical team explain and suggest alternative treatments, and reserve the right to make their own decisions.

3. Right to confidentiality

Patients' rights to confidentiality regarding their physical/health status and privacy will not be violated. Patients can expect that all medical records/reports and their personal privacy will be kept confidential unless the patient has given consent or disclosure is permitted by law. To ensure their privacy, patients may be informed that Individuals not directly involved in their care may not be present and that the number of guardians accompanying patients to consultation rooms may be limited.

4. Right to request consultation and mediation

In the event of a medical dispute, patients may request consultation and mediation from an internal or external agency (Korea Consumer Agency, Korea Medical Dispute Mediation and Arbitration Agency).

5. Right to have values and beliefs respected

Patients will not be discriminated against because of their culture, religious values, or beliefs, and their rights will not be violated.

6. Right to receive care in a safe setting

Patients have the right to receive hospital-provided care where the patient’s medical information is protected and patient safety can be assured. In addition, patients have the right to be protected from possible dangers that can occur in a hospital and to have stability of mind and body.

Patients' Responsibilities

1. Responsibility to trust and respect the medical team

Patients must accurately inform the medical team of their health condition and must trust and respect the medical team's treatment plan. Patients may be responsible for consequences that result from not following instructions.

2. Responsibility to not use dishonest methods for medical treatment

Patients must reveal their identity before receiving any medical care and must not use false or dishonest methods, such as seeking medical care under disguised ownership.

3. Responsibility to abide by all hospital regulations

Patients are expected to treat all hospital staff and other patients with courtesy and respect; to abide by all hospital rules; and to earnestly fulfill their financial obligation to the hospital. Also, patients and their family members are expected to participate in all safety regulations.