Spine Surgery at St. Francis Hospital, Roslyn: What Patients Should Know
By Derek G. Ju, MD — Board-Certified Spine Surgeon serving Nassau County, Long Island, and Greater NYC
If you've been told you need spine surgery and you live in Nassau County, one of the first questions you'll likely ask is: which hospital should I go to? For many Long Island patients, the answer is St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center in Roslyn — and for good reason.
I perform the majority of my spine surgeries at St. Francis Hospital. Here's what I tell patients who ask me about it, and what you should know before making your decision.
Why St. Francis Hospital?
St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center in Roslyn isn't just a good community hospital. It's one of the most highly ranked hospitals in New York State.
U.S. News & World Report ranks St. Francis among the best hospitals in the region across multiple specialties. Orthopedics is ranked #31 in the nation, and the hospital holds a High Performing designation in Neurology & Neurosurgery. It is ranked #5 in New York State overall and recognized as a Best Regional Hospital. These aren't marketing claims — they're independent assessments based on clinical outcomes, patient safety, and patient experience data.
On Healthgrades, St. Francis has received the Outstanding Patient Experience Award — meaning it ranks in the top tier nationally for how patients rate their care, from how well doctors and nurses communicate to how safe and clean the facility is. Over 90% of patients say they would recommend St. Francis to others.
For spine surgery specifically, this matters enormously. Your outcome isn't determined solely by the skill of your surgeon — it's also shaped by the quality of the nursing staff, the anesthesia team, the post-operative care protocols, and the facility's infection prevention standards. At St. Francis, all of these are operating at a high level.
What spine procedures are performed at St. Francis?
I perform a full range of minimally invasive and complex spine procedures at St. Francis Hospital, including:
Cervical spine (neck) procedures:
Anterior cervical discectomy and fusion (ACDF)
Cervical disc replacement (arthroplasty, ADR)
Cervical hybrid surgery (combining fusion and disc replacement)
Cervical laminoplasty and laminectomy
Lumbar spine (lower back) procedures:
Minimally invasive microdiscectomy
Endoscopic spine surgery
Transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion (TLIF)
Lateral lumbar interbody fusion (XLIF)
Anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF)
Minimally invasive decompression for spinal stenosis
Robotic spine surgery: I use the Globus Excelsius GPS robotic guidance system for appropriate procedures. This technology provides real-time 3D navigation and sub-millimeter accuracy for implant placement — reducing radiation exposure, minimizing tissue disruption, and improving surgical precision. St. Francis's surgical facilities support the full integration of this technology.
What makes spine surgery at St. Francis different from other Long Island hospitals?
1. You'll see me personally — for every part of your care.
This deserves emphasis. At many large academic medical centers, patients assume they'll be operated on by the attending surgeon they met in the office — and are sometimes surprised to find that residents or fellows perform significant portions of their procedure. At my practice, I personally perform every surgery.
2. The nursing and support staff are exceptional.
Spine surgery patients spend anywhere from a few hours to a few days recovering at the hospital after their procedure. The quality of nursing care during that window — monitoring, pain management, early mobility, wound care — directly affects how quickly and smoothly you recover. The nursing staff at St. Francis is experienced with spine surgery patients and consistently receives high marks from my patients.
3. Same-day discharge is possible for many minimally invasive procedures.
Advances in minimally invasive technique — smaller incisions, less blood loss, less tissue disruption — mean that many spine surgery patients no longer need a multi-day hospital stay. For appropriate procedures like microdiscectomy and single-level decompression, same-day or next-day discharge is often possible at St. Francis. This is a meaningful quality-of-life difference for patients.
4. Location and convenience for Long Island patients.
St. Francis is centrally located in Roslyn, making it easily accessible from throughout Nassau County — including Great Neck, Manhasset, Port Washington, Garden City, Hicksville, Westbury, and surrounding communities. For patients coming from the North Shore in particular, it's often the most convenient option for both the surgery itself and any follow-up visits.
What should I bring and expect on the day of surgery?
Once you and I have made the decision to proceed with surgery, my office coordinates the scheduling and pre-admission process with St. Francis directly. Here's a general overview of what to expect:
Before surgery: You'll complete pre-operative testing through St. Francis — typically bloodwork, an EKG, and a clearance visit with your primary care physician or internist. My office will provide you with a checklist of what to bring and instructions on eating, drinking, and medications.
The day of surgery: You'll arrive at the St. Francis admissions area, where you'll be taken to the pre-operative area to be prepared by the nursing and anesthesia teams. I'll come speak with you before we proceed to the operating room. The surgical time depends on the procedure — minimally invasive procedures can be as short as 45–90 minutes.
After surgery: You'll recover in the post-anesthesia care unit (PACU) before being either discharged home or transferred to a hospital room. My office will contact you within 24–48 hours post-operatively to check in, and a follow-up appointment is typically scheduled for 2 weeks after surgery.
What about the other hospitals where Dr. Ju operates?
I am on the medical staff at three hospitals on Long Island:
St. Francis Hospital & Heart Center, Roslyn — where I perform the majority of my cases
NYU Langone Hospital — Long Island (Winthrop), Mineola — nationally recognized, particularly for complex and multi-disciplinary cases
Northwell North Shore University Hospital, Manhasset — a major academic medical center affiliated with the Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell
The appropriate hospital for your procedure depends on the nature of your surgery, your insurance coverage, and logistical considerations. When we meet for your consultation, we'll discuss which hospital is the best fit for your specific situation.
Frequently asked questions about spine surgery at St. Francis
Is St. Francis Hospital in-network with my insurance? St. Francis participates with most major insurance plans. My practice is in-network with Aetna, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Oxford, Medicare, Workers Compensation, and No-Fault insurance. Specific insurance questions are best verified with the St. Francis billing department and with my office prior to scheduling.
How long will I be in the hospital after spine surgery? It depends on the procedure. Many minimally invasive surgeries (microdiscectomy, single-level decompression) are done as outpatient or 23-hour observation cases, meaning you go home the same day or the morning after. More complex fusions or multi-level procedures typically require a 1–3 day stay. We'll discuss what to expect for your specific procedure at the time of consultation.
Can my family be with me at St. Francis? Yes. St. Francis has visitor accommodations for surgical patients, and my office can provide current visitor policy details at the time of scheduling.
Is St. Francis a good hospital for spine surgery specifically? Yes. The hospital's orthopedic and neurosurgery programs are both nationally recognized by U.S. News & World Report, and its nursing staff is consistently rated among the best in the region for patient experience. The surgical facilities are modern and support advanced technologies including robotic spine surgery.
What if I've already been told I need surgery at a different hospital — can I switch to St. Francis? Absolutely. If you'd like a second opinion — including on where your surgery should be performed — I'm happy to review your imaging and history and discuss whether St. Francis is appropriate for your case. Many patients come to me specifically to have their surgery done locally rather than traveling to Manhattan.
Ready to take the next step?
If you're a Nassau County patient considering spine surgery — whether you're just starting to explore options or have already received a surgical recommendation — I'd welcome the opportunity to meet with you.
Dr. Derek Ju, MD offers same or next day consultations at two conveniently located Long Island offices, both within easy reach of St. Francis Hospital:
Great Neck: 600 Northern Blvd, Suite 300, Great Neck, NY 11021
Huntington: 532 New York Ave, Huntington, NY 11743
Call: (516) 627-8717 Book online: Request an appointment or Book on Zocdoc
In-network with Aetna, Empire BCBS, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Oxford, Medicare, Workers Compensation, No-Fault, and most major insurance plans.
Derek G. Ju, MD is a board-certified, fellowship-trained orthopedic spine surgeon specializing in minimally invasive and complex spine surgery. He trained at MIT, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, and the Rothman Orthopaedic Institute — the #1 rated spine fellowship in the country. He is an adjunct associate professor of orthopaedic surgery at NYU Langone Health and has served as team physician for the Philadelphia Eagles, Philadelphia Phillies, Philadelphia 76ers, Los Angeles Rams, and Los Angeles Clippers. He has been named a Castle Connolly Top Doctor in 2024, 2025, and 2026.
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