Experience
A board-certified, fellowship-trained spine surgeon with more than two decades of clinical experience, Dr. Patton specializes in the full spectrum of adult spine care, including degenerative conditions, deformity, minimally invasive surgery, trauma, and oncology. Since joining Luminis Health in 2011, he has built a high-volume practice recognized for clinical excellence, consistently performing above national productivity benchmarks. His practice reflects a modern approach to spine care—combining surgical expertise with thoughtful patient selection, streamlined care pathways, and a strong emphasis on outpatient and ambulatory spine surgery. He has been repeatedly recognized as a “Top Doctor” and has earned more than 100 five-star patient reviews, reflecting a commitment to both outcomes and patient experience.
Leadership
As Medical Director of Spine Surgery, Dr. Patton has led the transformation of a traditional community-based spine program into a fully integrated, multidisciplinary model spanning multiple hospitals, surgery centers, and outpatient sites. His leadership has focused on aligning orthopaedic spine surgery, neurosurgery, physiatry, and interventional pain into a coordinated system of care. He has designed and implemented innovative care delivery models to improve patient access, care efficiency, and care coordination. His work has also centered on value-based care—standardizing pathways to reduce length of stay, minimize readmissions, and improve overall system performance. In addition, he has played a key role in site-of-service strategy, helping shift appropriate spine procedures to the ambulatory setting while maintaining high standards of safety and outcomes.
Research
Dr. Patton is an active contributor to spine surgery research, with more than 40 peer-reviewed publications focused on outcomes, value-based care, health disparities, and the delivery of spine care in real-world settings. His work emphasizes translating data into practical improvements in clinical operations and patient care. He has been a leader in the adoption and integration of patient-reported outcome measures, including PROMIS, helping bring a more patient-centered and measurable approach to evaluating success in spine treatment.
Outcomes
Dr. Patton’s work is grounded in a commitment to measurable, meaningful outcomes—improving not only surgical success, but overall patient function, experience, and value of care. His approach integrates clinical expertise with data-driven decision-making, focusing on delivering the right care in the right setting for each patient. Through leadership in care pathway development and program design, he has contributed to system-wide improvements in efficiency, quality, and patient satisfaction. These efforts have supported recognition of his institution among Healthgrades’ “100 Best Hospitals for Spine Surgery.” His philosophy centers on delivering consistent, evidence-based results—reducing unnecessary variation, enhancing recovery, and helping patients return to their highest level of function as safely and efficiently as possible.