Spine Surgical Screening Assessment (SSSA)

*All patients must be referred by their Family Doctor to be considered for an appointment with Dr. Cenic.

More than 90% of physicians and 95% of patients are frustrated with the wait times to see a Spine Surgeon. Currently, wait times are greater than 18-24 months in the Hamilton and Niagara regions.  Are you wondering if surgery will relieve your symptoms? 

Based on a published physician survey and patient feedback, we at Waterview Physiotherapy & Health Centre developed a Spine Surgical Screening Assessment (SSSA) program affiliated with Dr. Aleksa Cenic (Neurosurgeon / Spine Surgeon). Our physiotherapists and chiropractors have been trained directly by Dr. Cenic in Advanced
Spine Screening and Assessment. A comprehensive spine assessment includes:

1. Detailed patient history, evaluating pain symptoms.
2. Review of diagnostic images (e.g., MRI).
3. Thorough physical examination.
4. Results of your assessment and recommendations for the next steps in your treatment / recovery will be shared with you and your Family Physician.

If you are a patient on Dr. Cenic’s waitlist, the detailed Assessment Report may be shared with his office to provide further clinical rationale to accompany any diagnostic imaging reports that are used to triage referrals (as deemed necessary by the SSSA assessor). If clinical justification for a Surgical Consultation is identified through the SSSA program, Dr. Cenic will re-triage your referral in a more timelier manner. 

The greatest delay with any spinal condition results from patients waiting for Surgical Consultation, when in fact 90% of such patients would not benefit from surgery. Our Spine- Trained Physiotherapists or Chiropractor will provide recommendations on the best non- surgical therapy options for those patients that are unlikely to benefit from surgery hence, direct such patients to the appropriate resources (e.g., Physiotherapy, Chiropractor). 

If you are a Physician, Physiotherapist or other Health Care Professional that wishes to refer a patient to Waterview Physiotherapy & Health Centre for a Surgical Spine Screening Assessment, please call (289) 235-8800. We would be pleased to give you more information on the referral process and what you and your patient can expect. If you would like to refer your patient to the SSSA program, please fill out this SSSA Referral Form.

Patients are kindly requested to complete the intake questionnaire and bring the form with them to their clinical appointment.

*Please Note: The fee for this Spine-Trained Physiotherapist’s or Chiropractor’s Spine Surgical Screening Assessment & Report is $200.00. The SSSA Program is NOT covered by OHIP. This fee may be covered by 3rd Party Insurance Companies.