SpineMark's Spine Centers of Excellence (spine centers) bring together highly skilled and dedicated spine specialists, allowing patients quick and easy access to care for all spine related needs. These centers create efficient patient triage and care management systems, help manage healthcare costs and provide patients with a complete continuum of care from diagnosis to pain relief, surgery and rehabilitation. The result is a highly efficient, patient-centric standard of care.

As part of this agreement, Philips will draw on its competencies in healthcare, lighting and design to provide an integrated solution to enhance optimal patient outcomes. This includes advanced imaging equipment such as MRI and CT scanners, healthcare IT solutions to improve spine center efficiency, and learning tools for physicians and nurses. Furthermore, Philips will equip the centers with innovative lighting solutions that create a stimulating workplace and improve productivity, as well as design solutions to streamline workflow for spine center staff.

"A major part of spine care is non-surgical. For example complex diagnosis, numerous pain relief interventions and extensive rehabilitation often mean that patients can experience long waiting times for services, repeated referrals and unnecessary expense," said Dr. Eric Silfen, chief medical officer at Philips Healthcare. "SpineMark's innovative care delivery model and our unique partnership will help simplify spine care and create a patient-friendly environment."

"With 4 out of 5 people suffering from back pain and an emphasis on finding quality, cost effective healthcare, we have seen a growing need for best practices in spine care across the globe," explains Marcy Rogers, CEO of SpineMark Corporation. "The partnership with Philips offers us access to the tools needed to not only implement the spine center model globally but also manage each center. This is the first time that a standard model for spine care is being set up globally."

Most cases of back pain are mechanical or non-organic (1) - while the most common causes of spinal cord injuries are from vehicular accidents (41.3 percent), followed by falls (27.3 percent)(2). Americans spend $85 billion a year on surgery, doctor visits, imaging and medications treating back and neck pain. Outpatient visits alone were responsible for 36 percent of all spine-related medical expenditures in 2005.(3)

Related news articles:

• Philips Healthcare's Profile

About Royal Philips Electronics
Royal Philips Electronics of the Netherlands (NYSE: PHG, AEX: PHI) is a diversified health and well-being company, focused on improving people's lives through timely innovations. As a world leader in healthcare, lifestyle and lighting, Philips integrates technologies and design into people-centric solutions, based on fundamental customer insights and the brand promise of "sense and simplicity". Headquartered in the Netherlands, Philips employs more than 116,000 employees in more than 60 countries worldwide. With sales of EUR 23 billion in 2009, the company is a market leader in cardiac care, acute care and home healthcare, energy efficient lighting solutions and new lighting applications, as well as lifestyle products for personal well-being and pleasure with strong leadership positions in flat TV, male shaving and grooming, portable entertainment and oral healthcare. News from Philips is located at www.philips.com/newscenter.

About SpineMark
SpineMark Corporation is an innovative service organization dedicated to transforming the delivery of spine care. The company partners with hospitals and physicians across the United States and abroad to develop and operate comprehensive, evidence-based spine centers of excellence. By building a global network of spine centers, spine research organizations and state-of-the-art medical conference facilities, SpineMark is improving the overall quality of life of patients afflicted with spine disorders and injuries.

Driven by the specialized experience and expertise of its leadership team and medical advisory board, SpineMark's goal is to create a global network, based on clinically validated best practices for spine care that streamline diagnosis and treatment, simplify referrals and accelerate the recovery process. Find more information on http://www.spinemark.com.

1. Source: American Chiropractic Organization
2. Source: National Spinal Cord Injury Statistical Center
3. Source: Journal of American Medical Association JAMA. 2008;299(6):656-664.