Free · No obligation · No referral needed

Your imaging, reviewed by the surgeon other surgeons trusted.

Send your MRI, CT, or X-rays. Dr. Pugely — dual-fellowship spine surgeon, Deputy Editor of The Spine Journal, and Iowa's decade-long complex-case referral destination — will personally review your imaging and give you a clear answer: whether we can help, and how fast you should be seen. At no cost.

Request my free review ↓

Already had surgery? Revision opinions are a core part of this practice.

What this review is

Personally performed by Dr. Pugely — never delegated

A clear answer — and an expedited appointment when your case fits

Honest — including “you don’t need surgery”

Consent-first: you initiate, you authorize, you control

Free of charge, no strings attached

How it works

Four steps. You control every one.

STEP 1

Request your review

Complete the short form below with your contact information and a brief history. Our team responds within one business day.

STEP 2

Sign consent & records release

You'll receive secure consent forms establishing a provider–patient relationship and authorizing us to retrieve your imaging and records — from any hospital or clinic.

STEP 3

Dr. Pugely reviews your imaging

Your MRI, CT, X-rays, and operative reports are reviewed personally by Dr. Pugely — the same review process he applied to a decade of statewide complex referrals.

STEP 4

Your answer — and your appointment

You receive a clear determination and a call from our team. When your case fits, an expedited appointment is held for you — often the same call. Diagnosis and treatment planning happen where they belong: in the exam room, with Dr. Pugely.

What you receive

A real opinion. In writing. In plain language.

A clear determination

Straight answers like: "We reviewed your imaging and believe we can help — an expedited appointment is being held for you." No vague form letters, no runaround.

Priority access when your case fits

Cases Dr. Pugely believes he can help skip the usual referral wait — our team calls with a held appointment slot, not a waitlist position.

Honesty when it doesn't

If an in-person surgical consultation isn't the right next step, we'll tell you that plainly and point you toward recommended next steps. The full evaluation — diagnosis and treatment planning — happens in the exam room.

Start here — the secure portal

Three steps. No discs in the mail.

Your imaging review runs through Expert View™ — a secure case portal where you upload your MRI, CT, X-rays, and records directly from your phone or computer.

STEP 01

Start your request

Tell us what's happening and the specific questions you want answered — about ten minutes.

STEP 02

Upload imaging & records

MRI and CT studies, X-rays, operative notes, and reports go directly into the secure portal.

STEP 03

Receive the review

Dr. Pugely's team reviews your case. If we believe we can help, an expedited appointment is held for you — and you'll hear it plainly either way.

Begin your second opinion — secure portal →

Secure upload and case review are handled inside the Expert View™ portal, powered by Purview — the same platform behind online second-opinion programs at nationally recognized academic medical centers and children's hospitals. No medical information is collected on this website. Available to patients in states where our physicians are licensed; the portal confirms eligibility. Prefer the phone? 563-421-4370 · or info@iowaback.com.

Iowa Back Institute does not independently provide or bill for medical care; clinical services are provided through MercyOne Genesis and affiliated medical practices. Submitting a request does not establish a physician-patient relationship or guarantee an appointment.

Important information. This portal is not for medical emergencies — if you have new weakness, loss of bowel or bladder control, or rapidly worsening symptoms, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department. A provider–patient relationship is established upon execution of the formal consent documents provided in Step 2, prior to any records retrieval or clinical review. Second-opinion services are available to patients located in states where Dr. Pugely holds an active medical license at the time of the encounter. The free imaging review provides a determination of whether this practice can help you and how quickly you should be seen; it is not a diagnosis or treatment plan, does not obligate you to receive treatment from this practice, and does not replace the care of your current physicians. Diagnosis and treatment decisions are made only after an in-person evaluation. Remote review is available to patients located in states where Dr. Pugely holds an active license; patients in other states are welcome to arrange an in-person consultation at any office.

Your imaging, reviewed by the surgeon other surgeons trusted.

What this review is

Four steps. You control every one.

A real opinion. In writing. In plain language.

Three steps. No discs in the mail.

Asked often, answered plainly.