UK HealthCare Comprehensive Spine Center - For Providers

Spine pain often gets harder to treat the longer it goes on. Early evaluation can help prevent long-term problems and reduce the need for unnecessary tests or medications. We treat people at every stage, from those with new symptoms to those with complex spine issues, and often find that early, team-based care leads to better results.

When a referral enters our system, our intake team reviews it, determines the best next step and gets the person started. Some begin with therapy or pain management. Others may need imaging or a surgical consult. The goal is always to avoid extra steps and get patients to the right place the first time.

Early referral also helps us communicate with you sooner. We can share impressions after the first visit, offer input on treatment options and work with you to decide the best next steps. This collaboration helps keep the person’s care moving and avoids delays caused by gaps in communication.

You can refer to the Comprehensive Spine Center in two ways:

• EpicCare Link (preferred): Log in, search for “UK HealthCare Spine Center” and attach imaging, notes and any relevant history.
• Fax: Send to 859-257-9474. Include contact information, insurance, reason for referral and records if available.

If you are not sure which method works best for your practice, our referral staff can walk you through the process. We can also answer questions about what to send or help retrieve outside records when needed.

Complete referrals help us move faster. Please include:

• Clinical notes
• Imaging (MRI, CT or X-ray)
• Past treatments, such as physical therapy or medications
• Insurance and demographic information

If some of this is not available, we will still review the referral. Complete information just helps us start the right care sooner.

We accept referrals for adults with:

• Back or neck pain that is not improving
• Radiating nerve pain or sciatica
• Herniated or slipped discs
• Spinal stenosis or disc degeneration
• Spinal deformity
• Long-term spine pain
• Pain after injury or surgery

We encourage referrals before all options are tried. Many people benefit from a team-based evaluation early on, which helps reduce unnecessary testing and speeds up access to the right care.

We focus on restoring function and relieving pain. That may mean therapy, injections or surgery when needed. Advanced practice providers often see referrals first and guide the next steps. This model helps reduce wait times, avoids unnecessary specialist visits and gets people to the right level of care quickly.

We also make sure to keep the referring provider informed. If someone starts therapy or has an injection, we will let you know. If surgery becomes the right option, we will update you before scheduling so you are part of the plan.

Our team, which includes nurse practitioners and physician assistants with advanced spine training, reviews every referral. They decide the most appropriate next step and direct the person accordingly. If conservative care is best, we start there. If surgery is needed, we arrange that without delay.
This process:

• Reduces bottlenecks
• Prevents delays
• Gets people the right care sooner

Since starting this model, we have seen fewer delays and higher satisfaction from both patients and referring providers. Referrers tell us they value knowing that their patients will be seen quickly and matched with the right service.

• Physical and occupational therapy 
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation
• Injections and other nonsurgical treatments
• Imaging and diagnostics
• Surgical evaluation and spine surgery

Many people improve without surgery. When surgery is needed, we work closely with UK HealthCare’s experienced spine surgeons, who use advanced techniques and technology to deliver safe, effective results.

A single referral connects your patient to:

• Orthopaedic surgeons and neurosurgeons
• Interventional pain specialists
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation physicians
• Nurse practitioners and physician assistants
• Physical and occupational therapists and nurses

Because our team shares notes, imaging and care plans, the person’s treatment stays coordinated even if their care moves between specialties. This avoids duplication and keeps everyone on the same page.

You will receive updates after key steps, including the first visit, imaging, procedures or surgery planning. Our goal is to support your ongoing care plan and return people to your care when they are ready.

If you ever have a question or need to check on a patient’s progress, we encourage you to call us directly. We believe good communication between providers leads to better care and better results.

• Simple referral process through EpicCare Link or fax
• One referral opens access to the full team
• Fast triage and scheduling
• Complete care from therapy to surgery
• Support for ongoing primary care
• High-volume center with strong results
• A referral model that works for you and your patients

Our program already works across specialties. In the future, we will move into one shared location to work even more closely together. We are also expanding access through additional advanced practice providers and improved scheduling tools.

Behind the scenes, we are refining our intake process and adding resources to make the referral experience smoother. Our goal is to give your patients the right care without wasted time, while keeping you informed every step of the way.

Questions about a referral? Want to talk through a case or get help starting the process?

Call the Comprehensive Spine Center at UK HealthCare at 859-257-1000.

We are here to make it easier for you and better for your patients.