Document Detail


Practice choices and challenges in the current intrathecal therapy environment: an online survey.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  19254334     Owner:  NLM     Status:  In-Process    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study was to evaluate current practice characteristics, treatment choices, clinical experiences, and economic concerns associated with intrathecal therapy. DESIGN: Health care professionals in the United States, who were known to actively use intrathecal therapy in their practices, were recruited to participate in an online survey; contact information was obtained via Internet searches, university Websites, association memberships, industry databases, and personal contacts. Survey responses were summarized descriptively. RESULTS: Of the 329 practitioners who were contacted, 87 participated in the survey. Most participants specialized in anesthesiology (77.0%), worked in a private practice or private hospital (74.7%), and had been practicing pain management for more than 10 years (64.4%). Morphine was the most frequently used opioid for the initiation of intrathecal therapy (80.7% of practitioners), and 81.9% had used ziconotide in their practice. Most practitioners (63.9%) had treated at least one patient who developed a granuloma, and 66.0% of those practitioners had a patient experience permanent or temporary neurological injury due to a granuloma. Fewer than half of practitioners were satisfied with reimbursement from private insurance companies (25.3%) or workers compensation (34.9%), and 90.5% believed reimbursement rates for filling, refilling, and programming patient pumps are not adequate to cover practice costs. The majority of practitioners (56.6%) use fewer pumps in their practices because of reimbursement issues. CONCLUSIONS: Intrathecal pain management practices continue to evolve as the options for treatment increase, and the body of applicable scientific literature grows; however, economic considerations can influence clinical decisions and may interfere with treatment choice and patient access to therapy.
Authors:
Timothy R Deer; Elliot Krames; Robert M Levy; Samuel J Hassenbusch; Joshua P Prager
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Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't     Date:  2009-02-25
Journal Detail:
Title:  Pain medicine (Malden, Mass.)     Volume:  10     ISSN:  1526-4637     ISO Abbreviation:  Pain Med     Publication Date:  2009 Mar 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2009-03-16     Completed Date:  -     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100894201     Medline TA:  Pain Med     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  304-9     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
The Center for Pain Relief, Charleston, West Virginia, USA. doctdeer@aol.com
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From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


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