Program Overview

The Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) is a statewide quality improvement collaborative involving orthopedic surgeons and neurosurgeons with the aim of improving the quality of care of spine surgery. The objective of this collaborative is to heighten patient care outcomes while consequently increasing efficiency of treatment.

Our goals

About MSSIC

The Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) seeks to measure and improve the care and outcomes of patients who undergo spine surgery. It is supported by the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan as part of the BCBSM “Value Partnerships” program.

MSSIC focuses on spine surgery including indications for surgery such as stenosis, disk herniation and degenerative diseases for which pain relief and restoration of function are primary treatment goals. Surgeries for tumors, trauma, severe scoliosis or spinal cord injury are not within the scope of this study.

MSSIC focuses its activities on a limited set of quality domains and then expands its focus. The initial areas of focus may include prevention of surgical complications, frequency and management of failed back chronic pain syndrome, fusion vs. non-fusion procedures and tracking patients post-surgery.

The project uses a patient registry to maintain and analyze data on patient characteristics, treatment processes and outcomes of care. The registry is maintained by ArborMetrix of Ann Arbor. The coordinating center is Henry Ford Health System, based in Detroit.

Download2022 MSSIC Success Slide

MSSIC Success Slide 2022

Download CQI Joint Statement on Healthcare Disparities & Racism June 2020

CQI Joint Statement on Healthcare Disparities & Racism

Support for the Michigan Spine Surgery Improvement Collaborative (MSSIC) CQI is provided by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan (BCBSM) and Blue Care Network (BCN) as part of the BCBSM Value Partnerships program. To learn more about Value Partnerships, visit www.valuepartnerships.com. The MSSIC Coordinating Center is housed at Henry Ford Health System.

Although Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and MSSIC work collaboratively, the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints expressed by the author do not necessarily reflect the opinions, beliefs and viewpoints of BCBSM or any of its employees.