Today we’d like to introduce you to Jason Williams, Sonia Williams.
Jason and Sonia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I was originally interested in becoming a Physical Therapist. After working as a physical therapy technician during college for a short period of time, I realized that I could do more to help people. From that point on, I decided to further my education and earned a Bachelor of Science in Biology from the University of Houston in December of 1998. I was accepted to medical school at Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. Upon completion of medical school, I stayed at Texas Tech University HSC to complete my residency in Anesthesiology as well as a Fellowship in Pain Management.
After completion of my Pain Management Fellowship, I worked as an anesthesiologist due to the lack of opportunities to practice interventional pain management. I am not the typical Pain Management physician who prescribes narcotics to patients. I prefer to practice techniques such as injections or procedures versus medication management.
In 2012, I was given an opportunity to learn and about train to perform a minimally invasive laser spine surgery. It is a modified pain management procedure, so I was very familiar with the technique. At first, I approached the procedure with skepticism, yet I was intrigued at the same time because it was “experimental.” Given the truly minimally invasive nature of the surgery, I wondered if it could be beneficial to reduce patients’ pain. The surgery is done through a 1-2 mm incision, sometimes less than that, and uses laser energy to reduce herniated and bulging discs anywhere in the spine.
After performing hundreds of successful procedures, I believe that the minimally invasive laser spine surgery is the best option for many patients with spine pain. It is an outpatient procedure, and most patients return to work within a few days.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc. – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The main struggle that I have encountered is the education of patients and other physicians. The medical community at large is unaware of this minimally invasive laser spine procedure. Insurance companies are the biggest obstacle we have in getting this procedure approved in order to provide the best care for my spine patients. My staff and I work long hours and fight for patients’ rights to get the treatment s that they need. Also, it is often difficult to convince the hospital administration that this procedure is worth the investment.
Let’s face it, practicing medicine in a big city can be difficult. Most people do not refer to you to benefit the patient. There is usually some kind of “motive” or “incentive” behind referrals and deals. Physicians often get hounded by pharmacy companies, hospital systems, equipment representatives, etc., to use or sell their products for extra incentives. With the insurance reimbursement rates dwindling, some of these deals seem like a great way to supplement income. If a quota is not met, there is a sense of urgency to sell, sell, sell, or else your answer to the company that you have made a deal with. On the other hand, the Texas Medical Board considers these deals as “kickbacks” and therefore unethical and in some cases, illegal. There is also added pressure by hospital systems to bring as many cases to their facility as possible. Most have a requirement of cases that a practice needs to perform or else they will cut your privileges.
Specialty physicians simply face so many obstacles to stay afloat in order to care for patients properly.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Texas Laser Spine Care – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Texas Laser Spine Care is a minimally invasive laser spine practice who customize a treatment plan for patients to get back to a normal life with little to no pain. Our minimally invasive approach involves small to no incisions. So, less chance of damage to muscles, tendons, ligaments, and nerve roots; less blood loss; less risk of infection; quicker recovery and better outcomes. I treat patients who have been diagnosed with:
• Herniated disc
• Bulging disc
• Protruding disc
• Failed back surgery
• Degenerative disc disease
• Pinched nerve
• Sciatica
I am most proud of our team approach to treating the whole patient, starting with the most conservative therapies and progressing towards the more invasive procedures while using the most state of the art techniques and equipment. Understanding that “it takes a village” to help patients is something I value in my practice. I work closely with other providers such as Chiropractors and Physical Therapists as well as Orthopedic Spine surgeons in order to care for patients as a whole encompassing treatment plan.
My employees and I have worked together for many years, and we treat patients like family. We care for each and every one by creating customized treatment plans in order to heal the person, not just the symptoms. I believe that sets us apart from other medical practices.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
I am looking forward to expanding my treatment options to include a rapid detox program to further help patients with opioid addiction. The opioid crisis is at an all-time high according to the CDC:
-From 1999 to 2017, more than 700,000 people have died from a drug overdose.
-Around 68% of the more than 70,200 drug overdose deaths in 2017 involved an opioid.
-In 2017, the number of overdose deaths involving opioids (including prescription opioids and illegal opioids like heroin and illicitly manufactured fentanyl) was six times higher than in 1999.
-On average, 130 Americans die every day from an opioid overdose.
The anesthesia assisted rapid detox entails a process for the patient to be medically screened by a Board Certified Physician, be put under anesthesia to detoxify from drugs and released the following day. The patient will have the benefit of not being conscious while the body goes through the withdrawal symptoms. This is a 3-4 hour process with a short stay. Our office will also work with inpatient as well as outpatient rehab programs in order to ensure that the patient has an all-encompassing treatment plan and continuous support,
We hope to persuade insurance companies to add this to their list of approved procedures for drug addiction rehab programs as this will be less costly than a 7-10 day hospital stay for traditional detoxification.
Contact Info:
- Address: 6957 West Plano Parkway
Suite 2300
Plano, TX 75093 - Website: www.texaslaserspine.com
- Phone: 972.999,9357
- Email: jasonawilliamsmdpa@protonmail.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JasonAWilliamsMDPA/
Image Credit:
Andrew Sabogal
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