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P A I N
M A N A G E M E N T
they could perform some pain management procedures there. Cervical and
lumbar epidurals, basic stuff. We hosted them in our small procedure room.
Why not? It cost us hardly anything to do so. Pain procedures don't require
much in the way of capital equipment. In fact, if you're a multi-specialty center
and hosting orthopedic or other surgeries, you may already be suitably
equipped with a C-arm and table.
Fluoroscopic imaging is necessary for the injections, which got us more mileage
out of our C-arm. At $125,000 to $150,000, I wouldn't advise purchasing a new
machine for 4 pain procedures a month, but for 50 or more a month, it'll definitely
pay off. Otherwise, buying refurbished offers significant discounts and leasing
makes the latest models accessible.
The use of a C-arm necessitates a C-arm table, one that's built from carbonfiber components for radiolucence and cantilevered for imaging access over the
procedure sites. New tables cost about $20,000 to $25,000, but refurbished models can be had for a fraction of that.
Beyond those devices, all our pain management practitioners needed was
their single-use supplies — skin prep kits; custom trays of syringes and spinal
READY, SET, GO If your facility already has a C-arm, you're
suitably equipped to handle pain management cases.
needles; anesthetic agents, steroids,
contrast dyes and other medications —
which cost about $19 to $27 per case.
Profit motives
Total up the expenses of hosting pain
management injections (2 pieces of OR
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O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E | O C T O B E R 2012
