Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), the world’s leading academic medical center focused on musculoskeletal health, is marking the first anniversary of the HSS Spine Center in Paramus, New Jersey. Over the past year, the center has seen a steady increase in patients seeking care for back and neck pain. To meet their needs, the facility has expanded its services and added several new physicians, bringing the total to 12 doctors with special expertise in treating spinal conditions.

“HSS has long set the standard for excellence in spinal care, and our goal in establishing the center was to make high-quality care more accessible to New Jersey communities,” said Anil S. Ranawat, MD, a sports medicine surgeon and medical director of the HSS Spine Center. “Since our opening, area residents have expressed their satisfaction with the ability to receive care closer to home from the same highly specialized physicians who provide care at HSS in New York City.”

Since opening, the HSS Spine Center has seen office visit volume climb 44% across all sites, driven by strong demand across specialties. Surgical spine visits grew 46%, while physiatry visits rose 25%, reflecting growing patient trust in the center’s multidisciplinary model. The integration of pain medicine and neurology services in late 2025 further accelerated growth, positioning the center to sustain its upward trajectory into 2026 and beyond.

“Over the past year, we have treated patients with a wide range of conditions and injuries affecting the back and neck, from the most common problems to highly complex conditions, including scoliosis,” said Andrew A. Sama, MD, a spine surgeon and co-chief of HSS Spine. “Our multidisciplinary approach allows us to deliver advanced, individualized care tailored to each patient’s needs.”

Multidisciplinary care is central to the HSS Spine Center’s approach, giving patients access to physicians across several specialties based on their individual needs, according to Joel M. Press, MD, physiatrist-in-chief at HSS.

“When someone is dealing with a painful back or neck condition, finding the right specialist can be one of the biggest challenges,” Dr. Press explains. "Our goal is to connect each patient with the most appropriate specialist based on their individual condition, whether that involves nonsurgical care, pain management, rehabilitation, neurology, or surgery."

To help patients find the right specialist, HSS plans to launch care navigation support, a service designed to guide people through their healthcare journey. The program will offer personalized assistance to help people coordinate care across specialties and access needed resources.

“We are proud of what our team has accomplished during the center's first year, including expanding access to specialized spine care and helping more New Jersey patients receive expert treatment closer to home,” said Sheeraz Qureshi, MD, MBA, a spine surgeon and co-chief of HSS Spine. “In the coming year, we look forward to continuing to grow our services, enhancing the patient experience, and expanding access to coordinated spine care throughout the region.”

The HSS Paramus - Midland Avenue location is also available to serve patients throughout the New Jersey region with a wide range of musculoskeletal healthcare needs. For added patient convenience, select outpatient surgical procedures can be performed at the HSS Northern NJ Surgery Center in Mahwah. Surgical care is also available at HSS's main hospital in Manhattan, providing patients with access to the full breadth of HSS expertise and services.

The HSS Spine Center is located at 140 E. Ridgewood Avenue, Suite 175 S. For more information, please visit: www.hss.edu/njspine