From our ongoing series, “Optimizing Opportunities,” we're excited to share an insightful conversation with Dr. Neil Batta. This discussion centers around the art of harmonizing the demands of your professional practice with the essential aspects of your personal life.

Dr. Neil Batta, an interventional pain management provider at NeoSpine in the Greater Seattle area, provides a comprehensive approach to medication management, procedural guidance, pain relief techniques, and neuromodulation. His multi-disciplinary and personalized treatment plans emphasize functional recovery that includes lifestyle adjustments and exercise to improve his patients’ quality of life.

A Series on Patients, Practices, and Physicians

Surgery Partners: How do you balance your personal time in your practice, especially for patients requiring post-op care?

Dr. Neil Batta:  I focus on mental health, not only for my patients, but for myself. I often deal with difficult things in my practice, and I never want to bring that baggage home. You do what you can for your patients, but you have to leave the practice at the practice.  I make a concerted effort to not let it affect my personal life. And if I feel like it is, then I have to take some time to meditate or exercise or do something that allows me to take care of myself. 

SP: How do you find time to balance availability and accessibility?

DNB: I'm available when I can be, but when I'm not, I shut my phone off and I don't look. You know, the work only ends when you want it to. I'm available and I'm dedicated to my patients, but in order for me to remain that dedicated, I have to have time for myself and my family every day.

SP: How can you measure the success of a partnership with a patient and their mental wellness?

DNB: The first part is acknowledging that it exists. I always ask when patients come to me, if they have a history of mental health issues, or what their living situation is. I measure success not only by what their functional issue is, but—knowing I can't fix every issue—maybe if this aspect is better, then your pain is better. Ideally, then, the patient isn’t taking it home and unloading it on other family members.

SP: What do you think are the main drivers of high satisfaction rates in the pain management space?

DNB: I think that patients have to feel listened to, no matter what the result is. In fact, I think the result doesn't even relate to satisfaction. People just want to feel cared for. No one is asking me where I trained, no one is asking me what my degree is. It's simply: Do you listen to the patients? Do they like you? Patients don’t come to a physician to feel like they are on a conveyor belt—they want to feel heard. We look at the imaging, we talk, all that. It’s going to go how it goes. But if patients feel listened to, then they’re going to feel better.

Dr. Batta completed his residency in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, while also serving as Chief Resident. After completing residency, he continued his training through the Anesthesia department at the University of Pennsylvania with a Pain Medicine fellowship.