A year after it started, the Spine Surgery program was awarded the Joint commission's Gold Seal of Approval for core certification in spine surgery, recognized for meeting strict standards for quality and safety, being the first hospital awarded it in Upstate New York.

The program is part of the Neurology team, and uses an approach that fast tracks patients from emergency situation to immediate care.

Dr. Matthew Bennett, the Director of Spine Care and Pain Relief at UHS, says the program has helped keep patients from repeat visits.

"If people get hurt, they have a new spine injury and they end up in a walk in or an emergency department and need to be seen, they get fast tracked very quickly to a manual therapist. So within 48 hours they're getting someone's hands on them to get treated very quickly," Bennett said.

UHS hopes the program influences other initiatives within UHS in the coming years.