The SAN and Norwest Private Hospital Join the Australian Spine Registry

The SAN and Norwest Private Hospital are Approved to Enrol Patients in the Australian Spine Registry

Two leading Sydney hospitals, Sydney Adventist Hospital (SAN Hospital) and Norwest Private Hospital, have received approval to enrol patients in the Australian Spine Registry (ASR) for long-term follow-up. This marks an important step in strengthening patient care, outcomes monitoring and research across spine surgery in Australia.

About the Australian Spine Registry

The Australian Spine Registry (ASR) is a national clinical registry that collects data from hospitals and spine surgeons across Australia. It was established by the Spine Society of Australia (SSA) to track the outcomes of spinal surgery, evaluate surgical approaches and improve patient safety and care quality on a national scale.

By gathering data from both public and private hospitals, the registry helps clinicians and researchers understand how different surgical methods, implants and patient factors influence recovery and long-term outcomes.

Purpose and Value of the Registry

The registry’s overarching goal is to improve the quality and safety of spine surgery through continuous monitoring and evidence-based insights.

Key objectives include:

• Monitoring variations in surgical treatment and outcomes across Australia
• Assessing the effectiveness and safety of surgical approaches and implantable devices
• Identifying factors that predict better recovery and long-term patient satisfaction
• Supporting research, audit and benchmarking to promote quality improvement among hospitals and surgeons

Data from the ASR enables healthcare providers to benchmark their performance against national standards, helping identify opportunities for improvement and innovation in spinal care.

How the Registry Works

Patients undergoing spine surgery at participating hospitals are automatically enrolled in the registry under an opt-out model. Participation is voluntary, and patients can withdraw at any time without affecting their care.

The ASR securely collects information such as:

• Basic patient details and surgical data, including diagnosis, procedure, implant type and surgeon
• Patient-Reported Outcome Measures (PROMs), including pain levels, mobility and quality of life
• Follow-up surveys were completed at 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery, with some patients monitored even longer

This real-world data helps build a comprehensive picture of spine surgery outcomes across Australia, ensuring that patient care continues to evolve and improve.

What This Means for Patients at SAN and Norwest Private Hospitals

With SAN Hospital and Norwest Private Hospital now participating in the ASR, patients undergoing spine surgery at these facilities can be confident their care is part of a national quality-assurance program.

By joining the registry, both hospitals demonstrate a strong commitment to:

• Long-term patient follow-up, ensuring recovery is monitored well beyond the hospital stay
• Transparency and accountability, using data to inform better surgical practices
• National collaboration, contributing valuable information to advance spine surgery outcomes in Australia

For patients, this means greater peace of mind knowing their experience contributes to ongoing improvement in spinal healthcare nationwide.

Why National Registries Like the ASR Matter

Clinical registries such as the Australian Spine Registry play a vital role in improving healthcare. By collecting large-scale, real-world evidence, they enable:

• Better understanding of what treatments deliver the best outcomes
• Early detection of device or implant issues
• Data-driven decision-making by surgeons, hospitals and policymakers
• Continuous enhancement of patient care and safety across the country

For the spine surgery community, this data is invaluable, guiding research, improving surgical standards and ensuring every patient receives the best possible care.

Looking Ahead

The inclusion of Sydney Adventist Hospital and Norwest Private Hospital in the Australian Spine Registry represents another milestone in advancing spine surgery care across New South Wales. As more hospitals join the registry, Australia’s spine-care network continues to grow stronger, combining data, research and patient experiences to shape the future of spinal health.