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Peachtree Spine Physicians Atlanta
Author: | Monday February 02, 2009
Jeffrey Grossman, M.D., left with Matthew Richardson, M.D., and Richard Montgomery, Director of Business Development.
"A Matter of Trust"
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Doctor Takes Personal Approach to
Meet the Needs of Injured Worker
Jeffrey S. Grossman, M.D. is a physiatrist (physical medicine and rehabilitation specialist) who provides medical care to help injured workers overcome challenges in order to return to their lives and their work. He could write a book on the subject of finding solutions to such challenges, and in fact he has, "Innovative Doctoring - Solutions Lie Within Us." While the book was written for doctors and medical students, Dr. Grossman's thoughts and writing style reveal an individual who is a problem solver and, if you will, a "people person."
Dr. Grossman brings those attributes to Peachtree Spine Physicians, which he founded in 2003. Today the practice has four specialists trained in physical medicine and rehabilitation and five locations in the Atlanta area. Nearly forty percent of the practice is focused on workers' compensation patients and the numbers of referrals are growing.
Workers' compensation case manager Karen Bartlett, RN, CCM, of Intracorp is among those professionals who have been impressed with Peachtree Spine Physicians. "The biggest thing is that they are very conservative and work on behalf of the patient," Bartlett said. "Dr. Grossman is willing to learn. If I send him a note, he not only reads it but sends a note back. All of the doctors in the practice are good to work with," she added. "They are well respected."
Richard Montgomery, Workers' Compensation Coordinator for the practice likes hearing that kind of feedback. "The patients who are treated at Peachtree Spine Physicians go back to their families and friends and say 'the doctor sat down and he listened. He spent time with me'. "We have had some great success stories," Montgomery added.
"I do a full history and physical exam on each new patient," Dr. Grossman explained, adding that time is taken to listen to concerns and learn what factors contribute to the individual's physical problems. We try to get in touch with the patient and to get them to trust us," Dr. Grossman added. If this sounds like a bit of a different perspective, it is what the doctor is seeking. "We are a 'boutique' practice," in that regard," he said.
Peachtree Spine Physicians focuses on conditions that affect the neck and back and work related injuries require early intervention, diagnosis and treatment. "Our staff is trained to make sure that patients do not have to wait and we see injured workers as soon as possible. The earlier we can begin working with an individual the better our chances of building a relationship that will improve the chances of recovery," Dr. Grossman pointed out. He added that only a small percentage of back and neck injuries require surgery. "On many cases these injuries can be treated successfully through conservative, non-surgical treatment."
Non-surgical treatments include: Epidural Steroid Injections, Facet Injections, Sacroiliac Joint Injections, Lumbar Discography, EMGs, Sympathetic Blocks, Trigger Point Injections and Percutaneous Disectomy. The practice also provides Independent Medical Evaluations (IMEs).
Peachtree Spine Physicians operates in a paperless environment with electronic files and e-mail communications, allowing adjusters and case managers to get in contact with the office quickly or to follow their clients through the use of digital files.
The practice is on numerous physician panels but Montgomery said the group continues to educate insurers, adjusters and case managers that physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists can provide opportunity for a rapid return-to-work through early intervention, diagnosis and treatment.
"Our role is to be on the front lines of care as opposed to the last resort for injured workers, after they have exhausted treatment options," Dr. Grossman concluded.
Ed. Note: Peachtree Spine Physicians doctors are: Jeffrey S. Grossman, M.D.; Matthew M. Richardson, M.D.; Christopher D. Taylor, M.D.; Rayden C. Cody, M.D. Offices are located in Atlanta, Johns Creek, Cobb and Decatur. Director of Workers' Compensation is Richard Montgomery. For more information call 404-843-3323, 770-692-2001 or visit www.peachtreespine.com.
Book for Doctors; Lessons for Everyone
Jeffrey Grossman, M.D., has written a book "Innovative Doctoring - Solutions Lie Within Us" that was meant to inspire his fellow medical professionals to think outside the box and develop ways to stay motivated. He uses himself as an example. Dr. Grossman developed a laser-guided alignment device designed to improve accuracy of interventional pain procedures.
Although the book is targeted to physicians and medical students, there is much in the publication that relates to life in general. For example, if you have expertise in a particular field you can draw on that knowledge. "When it comes to innovation... I found the most important factor when it comes to innovation, is what might be called domain-specific knowledge," Dr. Grossman writes. Expand upon what you know, is the message.
With chapters like "The Building Blocks of Creativity" and "The Creative Doctor: Profiles in Innovation", Dr. Grossman draws on his own experience and those of others to put together an interesting, inspiring and entertaining book. "Innovative Doctoring" also provides insight into his approach to medicine and the treatment of his patients.
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