Polaris Spine and Neurosurgery Center

Do you want to join our team? Know somebody who would? Head over to our website for information about our open positions! http://polarisspine.co/WeAreHiring

Your hard work is recognized daily, but today we honor you! Thank you for your support, compassion and dedication to our patients! #nationalnursesweek

As Patient Experience Week comes to an end, we know there are several options when choosing a spine specialist and we’d like to express our sincere appreciation for allowing us to be a part of your care. #nationalpatientexperienceweek

What better way to commence Patient Experience Week than sharing our patients' experience with our staff and our office. Our patients are the reason we do what we do.

In honor of the DEA's National Prescription Drug Take Back Day tomorrow, we are highlighting the importance of safe and responsible prescription drug use. One of our clinicians, Carter Cooper, specifically discusses narcotics, the role it plays in post-operative care, alternatives and safety measures to follow when prescribed. For more information on opioids and alternative treatment options click the link below... http://polarisspine.co/OpioidsandAlternativeTreatments

Did you know that our facility offers on-site diagnostic imaging? Our state-of-the-art MRI suite features an open design, natural light accessibility and head phone compatibility. Our patients can listen to music or even catch up on podcasts during their scan. In addition to our MRI suite, we also have an on-site X-ray suite on our 4th floor. This X-ray suite allows us to take quick images of the affected areas and our clinicians can immediately review these scans and discuss... them with our patients. Because of our on-site imagining suites, there is no need for patients to travel to separate radiology centers to have these scans performed. We want our patients to have: greater convenience faster diagnosis an immediate treatment plan

Spine love is self-love. Happy Valentine's Day from all of us at Polaris!

Our very own neurosurgeon, Dr. Raymond Walkup, has been recognized for performing one of the first ever prone lateral cases using the Globus Medical Excelsius GPS! He recently utilized this cutting-edge technology for one of our most commonly performed lumbar surgeriesthe XLIF (Extreme Lateral Interbody Fusion). Dr. Walkup was the 4th surgeon in the U.S. to utilize this approach for this procedure. Using ExcelsiusGPS and its advanced navigation instruments, he was able to seamlessly place a RISE-L interbody device (expandable lateral interbody spacer) and minimally invasive CREO MIS (posterior percutaneous stabilization system featuring extended screw heads) for a posterior fusion. Our neurosurgeons remain on the forefront of new and innovative robotic techniques to ensure optimal surgical outcomes for our patients.

Let's talk sciatica. Sciatica is a term that many people use loosely without truly understanding what it is or what its ramifications might be. So we're here to debunk three common myths about sciatica. Myth 1- All shooting leg pain is sciatica: Don't automatically assume your leg pain is sciatica, which is caused by compression of a specific nerve. Your doctor is the best person to narrow down the source of your pain & recommend treatment options. Myth 2- Sciatica is a con...dition in and of itself: Sciatica is a symptom that may be caused by a number of conditions, and only a doctor can help pinpoint the actual cause in order prescribe treatment. Myth 3- Sciatica must be corrected by surgery: Most sciatica cases can be treated non-surgically (i.e. chiropractic care, physical therapy, injections, etc.).

Today we continue to recognize our amazing anesthesiology team by highlighting our nurse anesthetist, Anne! Anne grew up in the Atlanta area and attended nursing school at Georgia State University and Brenau University. She then later received her anesthesia training at Georgia Baptist Hospital (Atlanta Medical Center). Anne has been a part of the Polaris team for the last 5 years and notes that working at Polaris has been her favorite job thus far. The anesthesiology team ...has truly fine-tuned the Polaris experience and are recognized daily for their hard work. When she is not in the operating room, Anne enjoys spending time with her family and being around animals. Anne also enjoys giving back to the community when she is able. She currently serves as a volunteer for the therapeutic riding program at Chastain Horse Park and recently joined the State Emergency Registry of Volunteers in Georgia (SERVGA). Thank you for the quality care you provide for our patients daily and the time you spend serving the community!

Keeping our staff healthy during this time has been a top priority and we are so grateful they have had the opportunity to get vaccinated this year! We will continue to keep the doors open and provide a safe environment for our patients. #vaccinated #happyfriday

In honor of Anesthesiologist Appreciation Week, we’d like to take this opportunity to highlight our remarkable ambulatory anesthesiologist, Dr. Gennifer Wiley. Dr. Wiley completed her M.D. program and residency at Baylor College of Medicine, alongside one of our esteemed neurosurgeons, Dr. Christopher Tomaras. Dr. Wiley joined Polaris in 2015 and plays an integral part in our outpatient surgery center. She works diligently to ensure the best care for our patients while offeri...ng comfort to those awaiting, what most patients reveal to be, the most daunting aspect of their surgery. When she’s not in the OR, Dr. Wiley spends the majority of her time with her family. She is an avid runner and participates each year in the Triple Peach Race Series which includes, The Peachtree Road Race, Atlanta 10 Miler and The Thanksgiving Day Half Marathon!

Thinking about the prospect of spine care can seem overwhelming. Well, rest easy! Less than half of our patients need to proceed to a surgical option to get relief and many of our procedures are done on an outpatient basis. So, even if you DO need surgery, we'll get you back up and running before too long.

Wishing everyone a safe and happy new year!

Our final resolution for better back and spine health is to stretch more frequently. Regular stretching exercises help keep muscles and ligaments flexible. They can also reduce stress on joints and improve the flow of blood and nutrients throughout the body. Without it, stiffness, limitation of movement, and pain can occur or increase. In the new year, let's all resolve to stretch towards a healthy back and spine.

Great things to come in January. #newlocation #CollegePark

We couldn't go another day without honoring our next CA, Elise. Elise graduated from the University of South Florida with a B.S. in Biomedical Sciences and has been with Polaris just over a year. The next step for her is PA school! When Elise is away from Polaris, she can usually be found in a kitchen! She loves attempting new recipes, going to farmers' markets or specialty food stores, and she volunteers at the Suther's Center food pantry. She also enjoys spending time... outdoors, camping or hiking, in North Georgia and Tennessee. Elise, thank you for being such a joy to be around and for being so great with our patients.

Today, we continue our series of resolutions for a healthy spine with a resolve for better posture and a better workspace. With so many of us working from home right now, it is important to have a home workspace that promotes good posture and movement to help you prevent back pain as well as eye strain if you work in front of a computer screen for extended periods of time.

As we continue to recognize the hard work done by our CAs, we'd like to highlight Alexandria. Alexandria is the CA for one of our neurosurgeons, Dr. Walkup. She has been at Polaris for about a year and a half. Before coming to Polaris, she graduated from the University of Georgia with a degree in Animal Science. Her goal is to apply to Physician Assistant programs this year. To relax, Alexandria loves baking and taking weekend getaways.... Alexandria, thank you for all you do for Polaris. We can't wait to see where your journey within the medical field takes you!

Did you know you can use your HSA and FSA Benefit Card to pay for qualified medical expenses in our office? So don't wait until the end of the year, call our office for more information and to book a consultation.

Our last, but certainly not least, highlight for National PT Month is Casey! Casey attended and graduated from the University of Georgia with a Bachelor's degree in Exercise and Sport Science. Following graduation, she began PT school at Augusta University. This past May, Casey received her doctorate in PT and passed her boards in July. Casey recently joined our team and expressed that she is excited to begin her career and to help patients in any way she can. ... When she is not with patients, Casey enjoys hiking, camping, water skiing, wakeboarding, playing rec volleyball, and is currently re-teaching herself sign language. We are so thrilled to have you as a part of our team Casey.

Our next highlight for National PT Month is Paige. Paige graduated from the University of Tennessee then later attended the University of St. Augustine, in Austin, TX, for physical therapy school. Paige has been a physical therapist now for 3.5 years. In her free time, Paige enjoys watching the Tennessee Vols play, trying new restaurants, spending time on the lake, and spending time with her family and husband. ... Thanks for all that you do, Paige!

We truly enjoy hearing about our patients’ experiences with our staff and our office. We'd like to express our sincere appreciation for allowing us to be a part of your care. Our patients are the reason we do what we do!

We couldn't let National Physical Therapy Month come to an end without recognizing our incredible PT team. Our first highlight is Corey! Corey graduated from the College of Charleston in 2010 with a B.S. in Biology and a minor in Chemistry. He later attended the Medical College of Augusta University, where he received his Doctorate of Physical Therapy and his certification in Dry Needling. Corey has been practicing in Georgia for the last 6 years and has been a part of the P...olaris team since 2019. In his free time, Corey enjoys spending time with his family and dogs, cycling, playing the guitar and piano, and gardening. He is also an avid Braves fan! Corey, we are very grateful for the premium care you provide for our patients daily. Thank you for all that you do!

Have questions about the future of robotics in spine care? Well, we answer a few in our latest Q&A with Becker's Spine Review. Our neurosurgeon, Dr. Raymond Walkup, shares his thoughts on how robotics will develop in spine and discusses what the next robotic evolution may unfold. To read more, click the link below.... http://polarisspine.co/roboticsevolution

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In honor of the last day of National MA Week, we are highlighting this dynamic sister duo, Kacie (left) and Michelle (right)! Kacie was born in Greensburg, PA but shortly moved to Georgia. She attended and graduated from Savannah Technical College in 2009, where she received her certification as a medical assistant. A couple years following graduation, Kacie joined Polaris and has been a part of the team for the past 9 years. When she is not at Polaris, Kacie enjoys cooking w...ith her mom, spending time with her children and dogs, going to her kid's soccer games, and trails with her dogs. _______________________ Michelle received her CMA at Medix School in Smyrna, Georgia. She has been with Polaris Spine for 21 years and serves as the lead surgery scheduler, where she plays an cardinal role preparing our patients for surgery. In her free time, Michelle enjoys spending time with family, their dogs, and being outside doing activities or going on nature walks. We truly value the hard work and dedication both Kacie and Michelle have put forth daily to ensure our patients receive quality, premium care. Thank you both for all that you do!

On October 8, 2020, our neurosurgeon, Dr. Raymond Walkup, performed the first case in the Southeast using the Globus Spine 1.1, Interbody Solutions System. This has made Polaris one of the first facilities in the world to have the newest version of this advanced technology, enabling a fully navigated MIS LLIF, PLIF or TLIF procedure from start to finish. The newly launched Globus Medical ExcelsiusGPS Interbody Solutions offers visualization, constant real-time feedback and ...the visibility to help achieve optimal implant placement for your surgeon throughout the entire spine procedure. To read more on this cutting edge technology, click the link below. http://polarisspine.co/GlobusRoboticSoftware

Today's highlight for National MA Week is Meme! Being born and raised in Alabama, Meme attended Trenholm State Community College in 2009, where she completed her MA program. Following graduation, Meme moved to Atlanta and began working at Polaris and has been a part of the team for 8 years! She began her career as an MA then transitioned to surgery scheduling and currently serves as our lead procedure scheduler for Dr. Mangrum and Dr. Tran. In her free time, Meme enjoys spend...ing time with family and friends, discovering new restaurants around the city, decorating for the holidays and shopping. Meme is widely known for her hard work, warm personality and compassion towards our patients. We are so grateful to have her as a part of the Polaris family.

HF10 is a medical device that is proven to provide long term relief from chronic back and leg pain and offers an alternative treatment option for our patients. We truly enjoy hearing about our patients' experiences and being a part of their spine health journey. Our patients are the reason we do what we do! To learn about Nevro HF10 and to read more patient testimonials, click the link below! ... http://polarisspine.co/HF10

This week we recognize our incredible Medical Assistants (MA), in honor of National MA week, for their hard work and dedication. Our first highlight is Taylor. Taylor has been with Polaris for 6 years and has played an integral role in leadership among our clinical assistants and continues to be an essential, key player in our patients' care. Taylor graduated and became a register medical assistant from Herzing University in 2017. Following graduation, Taylor transitioned an...d began working in our Outpatient Surgery Center in 2019, where she diligently works to prepare our patients for their upcoming procedures and surgeries. In her spare time, Taylor plays on several softball leagues, enjoys rock climbing, hiking, and swimming with her dog, Kyra. Thank you for the hard work you put in daily Taylor and playing such an important role in the OSC.

In continuation of our series, ways to enhance the success of post-surgical outcomes" and in honor of National Physical Therapy Month, today we highlight the benefits of physical and aquatic therapy in your spine health journey. Our physical therapy program is distinguished by offering our patients a HydroWorx heated therapy pool. Our therapy pool provides a safe, low-impact environment which allows patients who are unable to exercise out of water, to participate in physical... therapy rehabilitation. The pool features an underwater treadmill that is equipped with pressure sensors to analyze your gait pattern, making sure that effectiveness of your aqua therapy is optimized. #physicaltherapy #aquatherapy #spinehealth

In earlier days, spine surgery meant a complicated procedure followed by a long, painful recovery period. Nowadays, thanks to modern medicine and new technologies, minimally-invasive procedures greatly reduce pain, lower infection rates, shorten hospital stays and recovery times by half or even more. In a recent editorial with Workplace Health Magazine, one of our neurosurgeons, Dr. Walkup, explains the benefits of minimally invasive spine surgery and the advanced technology that aid in improving rate of overall success. To read more, check out the link below (pg. 23/24). http://polarisspine.co/minimallyinvasivesurgery