Travis G. O'Brien, MD
My specialties:
- Pain medicine
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation
Professional interests:
- Musculoskeletal Pain
- Back Pain
- Neck Pain
- Post-stroke shoulder pain
- General rehabilitation
- Stroke rehabilitation
- SCI rehabilitation
- Spasticity
What is your practice philosophy? My philosophy is that patients can often overcome painful or functionally limiting conditions by learning strategies to better adapt to their impairments. There are many potential treatments, including medications and procedures, which should be applied conservatively to select patients for whom there is robust evidence. Our health care system often incentivizes aggressive treatments, even if those treatments will not result in meaningful benefit for many patients. I have the training and experience to provide a wide array of treatment options, but seek to use these options as selectively as possible to maximize success and minimize risk.
If I wasn’t a provider, I would be a: Play by play announcer. I love watching sports and have been told that I have a great voice for radio.
Why did you become a provider? When did you know this was the career for you? I was a student athletic trainer for a division 1 college athletics program and had a great experience.
Something I have learned from my patients is: Patients tend to know more about what is best for their own health than we appreciate.
One of the challenges of this career that I enjoy is (and why): Helping complex pain or rehab patients understand that they can still function well and have a fulfilling life with appropriate treatments or lifestyle modifications.
What are you most proud of? Being a father.
Credentials
- MD
Board-certified specialties
- Pain medicine
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation
Personal interests
- Football
- Hockey
- Travel
Years of experience
- 12
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Major health plans we participate in
- Allina Health | Aetna
- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota
- HealthPartners
- Medica
- PreferredOne
- SelectCare/LaborCare
- UCare
- UnitedHealthcare
Other health plans we participate in
- Medicaid/Medicare
- Aetna
- America's PPO
- First Health/Coventry
- CIGNA
- Humana
- Hennepin Health (formerly Metropolitan Health Plan)
- PrimeWest
- South Country Health Alliance
- United Behavioral Health
- Wisconsin Physician Services (WPS)