Jacob Buchowski, MD
- Orthopedic Surgery
- Barnes-Jewish Hospital
- St Louis Childrens Hospital
- Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital
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About Jacob Buchowski, MD
Dr. Jacob Buchowski’s clinical interests are dedicated to all aspects of spine management. He specializes in cervical and lumbar conditions associated with degenerative back and neck disorders; herniated, ruptured, bulging or slipped discs in the neck (i.e. cervical) or low back (i.e. lumbar); nerve compression in the neck or low back resulting in arm or leg pain, numbness, and/or weakness (called radiculopathy or sciatica (when occurring in the low back/legs); cervical and/or lumbar spinal stenosis; as well as spine tumors/metastatic spine disease.
Dr. Buchowski partners with his patients to create a care plan that could include nonsurgical treatment options and, if necessary, surgery. Minimally invasive spine surgery or complex reconstructive spine surgery for adults would be done at Barnes-Jewish West County Hospital or when appropriate at Barnes-Jewish Hospital.
Washington University physicians and BJC HealthCare accept most health insurance plans, including those listed below. If you have questions, please contact your insurance company.
Dr. Buchowski is consistently recognized on The Best Doctors in America list, a patient resource developed by Best Doctors Inc. He has held numerous leadership positions in national and international spine and orthopaedic surgery societies. He is a diplomate of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgery and is the recipient of numerous awards including the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgery Achievement Award, Scoliosis Research Society Traveling Fellowship Award and the Scoliosis Research Society Edgar Dawson Visiting Fellowship Award. Dr. Buchowski is the Lawrence G. and Elizabeth A. Lenke Distinguished Professor of Orthopaedic Surgery and Professor of Neurological Surgery. He is a vice chair and chief of the Spine Division in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery at Washington University School of Medicine.
“When I evaluate a patient, my primary goal is to restore their function and improve their quality of life. When non-operative treatment is unsuccessful in providing relief from symptoms, I determine whether surgery is an option. Surgical treatment is tailored to each patient and varies based on the condition, the patient’s health and their expectations. By working closely with our anesthesiologists, nurses, surgical technicians and electrophysiologists, I focus on performing the surgery safely and efficiently. Care of my patients doesn’t stop with surgery. I focus on optimizing the patient’s recovery by working in collaboration with physical and occupational therapists and physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists.”
Outside of caring for patients, Dr. Buchowski enjoys spending time with his wife and two teenage daughters and their Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, named Hope. He also enjoys landscape photography, hiking and camping.
Education & Credentials
Training & Education
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Medical School
The John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Internship
The John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Residency
The John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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Fellowship
Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
Board Certifications
Accepted Insurance Plans
Browse the list below to view insurance plans.
Before scheduling your appointment, we recommend you contact your health insurance company to confirm your policy's network, copays, coinsurance, deductibles, or out-of-network benefits. If you are uninsured, please contact us to learn more about our financial assistance policy.
Aetna
- Advantra Complete PPO Illinois (Aetna Medicare)
- Advantra Option 1 HMO/POS (Aetna Medicare)
- Advantra Option 2 HMO (Aetna Medicare)
- Advantra PPO (Aetna Medicare)
- Advantra Silver HMO (Aetna Medicare)
- Aetna Affordable Health Choice PPO
- Aetna CVS Health (MO Marketplace Exchange)
- Aetna Choice POS
- Aetna Choice POS II
- Aetna Coventry Medicare Gold Advantage
- Aetna Elect Choice
- Aetna HMO
- Aetna Health Network
- Aetna Health Network Option
- Aetna Managed Choice (POS)
- Aetna Medicare HMO
- Aetna Medicare Open Access HMO
- Aetna Medicare Open Access POS
- Aetna Medicare PPO
- Aetna National Advantage Program (NAP)
- Aetna Open Access Elect Choice
- Aetna Open Access HMO
- Aetna Open Access Managed Choice
- Aetna Open Choice (PPO)
- Aetna Quality Point of Service
- Aetna Select
- Aetna USAccess
- Aetna for Better Health of Illinois- Illinois Medicaid-IDPA
- Coventry ASO
- Coventry HMO
- Coventry Healthcare of IL
- Coventry Healthcare of Kansas
- Coventry National Network PPO
- Coventry One HMO
- Coventry One PPO
- Coventry One PPO Plus
- Coventry POS
- Coventry PPO
- Freedom PPO-Missouri (Aetna Medicare)
- Freedom Plus PPO-Missouri (Aetna Medicare)
- Gold Advantage (Aetna Medicare)
- Gold Dual Core HMO Missouri (Aetna Medicare)
- Great West Healthcare HMO
- Great West Healthcare POS
- Great West Healthcare PPO
- Great West Open Access
- Kansas Advantra Freedom PPO (Aetna Medicare)
- Mail Handlers-Aetna
Blue Cross
- Anthem Blue Access Choice-Missouri BC/BS
- Anthem Blue Access Federal PPO
- Anthem Blue Access-Missouri BC/BS
- Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Missouri, Regular or Traditional
- Anthem Blue Preferred Options PPO
- Anthem BlueCard Program PPO-Missouri BC/BS
- Anthem MediBlue Dual Advantage (Medicare Advantage)
- Anthem MediBlue HMO (Medicare Advantage)
- Anthem MediBlue PPO (Medicare Advantage)
- Blue Cross Blue Shield Illinois, Blue Choice Preferred (IL Marketplace Exchange)
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois HMO (Blue Card Program)
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois PPO (Blue Card Program)
Cigna
- Cigna FlexCare
- Cigna Healthcare EPO
- Cigna Healthcare HMO
- Cigna Healthcare HMO Open Access
- Cigna Healthcare Network
- Cigna Healthcare Network Open Access
- Cigna Healthcare Network Open Access Plus
- Cigna Healthcare POS
- Cigna Healthcare POS Open Access
- Cigna Healthcare PPO
- Cigna Healthcare PPO Plus
- Cigna LocalPlus (formerly SureFit)
- Cigna Network Open Access
- Cigna Network Open Access Plus
- Cigna Network POS
- Cigna Open Access Plus HMO
- Cigna Open Access Plus POS
- Cigna Preferred Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna Preferred Plus Medicare (HMO)
- Cigna Preferred Provider Access
- Cigna Preferred Provider Access Plus
- Cigna Signature
- Cigna True Choice Medicare (PPO)
Corvel
- Corvel
First Health Network
- First Health Network
Home State
- Home State Health Plan (Missouri Medicaid)
Humana
- Humana Choice PPO Medicare Advantage
- Humana Gold Choice Medicare Advantage Plan
- Humana Gold Plus HMO Medicare Advantage Plan
- Humana POS Medicare Advantage
MHNet
- Missouri HealthNet (Missouri Medicaid)
Medicare
- Medicare
MultiPlan
- MultiPlan
Orscheln Industries
- HealthScope Benefits, Inn (Orscheln Industries Health Plan)
Other
- BJC Center of Excellence - Consociate Health
- BJC HealthSolutions
- Beech Street
- Best Doctors, Inc,
- Care Management Resources (CMR)
- Community Partners Health Plan Inc.
- CoxHealth Network
- Decatur Memorial Hospital
- Essence Advantage HMO
- Essence Advantage Plus HMO
- Essence Advantage Select HMO
- HFN Inc
- Hannibal Regional PHO
- Health Alliance (IL Marketplace Exchange)
- Health Alliance HMO
- Health Alliance Medicare HMO
- Health Alliance Medicare POS
- Health Alliance POS
- Health Alliance PPO
- HealthLink HMO
- HealthLink Open Access
- HealthLink POS
- HealthLink PPO
- Private Health Care Systems PPO (PHCS)
- Quality Health Management
- Rockport Healthcare Group
- TriCare East-Humana Military
- USA Managed Care Organization
- Union Pacific Railroad Employee Health System
- Verify Insurance Acceptance With Practice
Other Medicaid
- Illinois Department of Public Aid (IDPA/HFS)
TriWest
- TriWest
- VA HealthCare Choice Program
United Healthcare
- AARP/United Healthcare Medicare Solutions Medicare Complete Choice Plan 2 PPO
- AARP/United Healthcare Medicare Solutions Medicare Complete HMO
- United HealthCare Choice
- United HealthCare Choice Plus
- United HealthCare Community Plan (Missouri Medicaid)
- United HealthCare EPO
- United HealthCare Navigate
- United HealthCare POS
- United HealthCare PPO
- United HealthCare Select
- United HealthCare Select Plus
- United Healthcare All Savers
- United Healthcare Dual Complete Choice
- United Healthcare Medicare Advantage HMO
- United Healthcare Medicare Advantage NPPO
- United Healthcare Medicare Advantage PPO
- United Healthcare Medicare Gold Medicare Advantage
- United Healthcare Medicare Silver Medicare Advantage
Reviews & Ratings
Overall Rating
Provider Overall Quality of Care
Recent Patient Reviews
About These Ratings
The BJC Medical Group (BJCMG) partners with an independent survey company, Professional Research Consultants (PRC), to gather feedback directly from patients about their experiences. PRC sends electronic surveys to BJCMG patients following a medical visit, asking them to evaluate different aspects of their care. Once a provider receives at least 30 reviews, responses are calculated by our survey vendor and posted to the provider's profile using a five-star rating system.
We refer to BJC Medical Group, Washington University Physicians, clinical services in Illinois provided by Washington University Physicians in Illinois, Inc., and independent providers who actively participate at a BJC-affiliated hospital. Providers make no payments for these referrals, and our selections are based on your needs and preferences.