Getting a second opinion can help you feel confident in your treatment plan.

You should schedule a second opinion appointment if you:

• Have exhausted all nonsurgical options for your back or neck condition
• Have been told you need spine surgery

Scheduling an Appointment
After you complete the form, you’ll receive a call from Jeff or Rommel, our second opinion patient liaisons, within two business days. During this call, please be prepared to provide your insurance information. We will ask you to answer basic questions about your diagnosis and recent treatments, including the date of your most recent MRI or CT scan.

We may ask you to bring your medical records with you to your appointment. We are most interested in seeing radiology reports and your most recent MRI or CT scans. If you don’t have your records, or don’t know how to get them, ask Jeff or Rommel for help.

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Northwestern Medicine Center for Spine Health

Northwestern Memorial Hospital 
Lavin Family Pavilion
259 East Erie Street
14th Floor, Suite 1450
Chicago, IL 60611

TTY for those who are deaf or hard of hearing: 711

What You Can Expect When Getting a Second Opinion

Meet the Center for Spine Health Team

Alpesh A. Patel, MD
Co-Director

Srikanth N. Divi, MD

Wellington K. Hsu, MD

Tyler R. Koski, MD
Co-Director

Nader S. Dahdaleh, MD

The Center for Spine Health is the only one of its kind in Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin that combines the expertise of orthopaedic surgeons, neurosurgeons, physical therapists and more in the same place. Our comprehensive team of experts will work together to develop a treatment and recovery plan that meets your needs.

Orthopaedic Spine Specialists

Neurosurgical Spine Specialists

Aruna Ganju, MD

Geoffrey P. Stricsek, MD

Kevin Swong, MD

Jean-Paul Wolinsky, MD

At the Northwestern Medicine Center for Spine Health at Northwestern Memorial Hospital, we know finding solutions to your condition can be overwhelming. A second opinion appointment can help you make an informed, confident decision, offering you peace of mind and perhaps a different approach to your back or neck condition.

Najib El Tecle, MD

Finding the right treatment for a back or neck condition can be confusing. Getting a second opinion from an expert can help.

To schedule a second opinion appointment at the Northwestern Medicine Center for Spine Health, fill out the form and a member of our team will contact you within 2 business days. For faster service, call 312.500.2128 to speak with a patient liaison or to leave a voicemail. In most cases, we can schedule your second opinion appointment within 48 hours.

During Your Appointment
The appointment will last approximately 60 minutes.

• First, we will take X-rays.
• Then, you'll be greeted by a nurse. They will review your medical history and gather basic information about your condition.
• You'll meet with a physician who specializes in your specific condition. They will ask you about:
• Your condition and how it is impacting your life
• Treatments you have had so far
• Results of those treatments

After Your Appointment
You’ll leave our center with a detailed treatment plan tailored to your specific condition. You can take as much time as you need to review and consider your plan. You won't be expected to make any additional appointments unless you want to continue with this treatment plan at Northwestern Medicine.