At the 19th Annual Ambulatory Surgery Centers Conference in Chicago on Oct. 25, Stephen Rosenbaum, CEO, and Robin Fowler, MD, of Interventional Management Services presented on the future of pain management.
Like any specialty, the field of interventional pain management is changing, but Mr. Rosenbaum and Dr. Fowler remain optimistic about the growth of the industry.
"Successful interventional pain management in ASCs will have to execute based on strategy and not fear," Mr. Rosenbaum said.
There are some negative factors surrounding pain management that some physicians and centers choose to focus on. These negatives include the uncertain political future of the Affordable Care Act, reimbursements concerns, chronic pain management, pill mills and the meningitis outbreak.
However, each of these concerns can be viewed in a positive light, they said.
While often seen as a downside, increased industry regulations also raise the bar for the specialty, Dr. Fowler said. Regulations also keep improperly trained people from performing pain management. Even the recent fungal meningitis scare is increasing overall awareness for the pain management community and shedding light on the necessity of using only FDA-accepted manufacturers for supplies.
Market growth also remains steady. "Those volumes will be growing," Dr. Fowler said. "We are excited about it."
Costs are also continuously slashed and more pain management procedures are performed in ASCs. Payors more readily recognize these cost savings and contracts are attainable.
The presenters recommend focusing on being nimble and agile to industry changes and able to respond to the environment. Pain management has a bright future as an alternative to more invasive surgeries.
More Articles on Pain Management:
Key Issues for Orthopedics, Spine and Pain Management in ASCs
10 Key Steps to Immediately Improve Profits
ASA Continues to Monitor CMS Proposed Medicare Fee Schedule Rule
Like any specialty, the field of interventional pain management is changing, but Mr. Rosenbaum and Dr. Fowler remain optimistic about the growth of the industry.
"Successful interventional pain management in ASCs will have to execute based on strategy and not fear," Mr. Rosenbaum said.
There are some negative factors surrounding pain management that some physicians and centers choose to focus on. These negatives include the uncertain political future of the Affordable Care Act, reimbursements concerns, chronic pain management, pill mills and the meningitis outbreak.
However, each of these concerns can be viewed in a positive light, they said.
While often seen as a downside, increased industry regulations also raise the bar for the specialty, Dr. Fowler said. Regulations also keep improperly trained people from performing pain management. Even the recent fungal meningitis scare is increasing overall awareness for the pain management community and shedding light on the necessity of using only FDA-accepted manufacturers for supplies.
Market growth also remains steady. "Those volumes will be growing," Dr. Fowler said. "We are excited about it."
Costs are also continuously slashed and more pain management procedures are performed in ASCs. Payors more readily recognize these cost savings and contracts are attainable.
The presenters recommend focusing on being nimble and agile to industry changes and able to respond to the environment. Pain management has a bright future as an alternative to more invasive surgeries.
More Articles on Pain Management:
Key Issues for Orthopedics, Spine and Pain Management in ASCs
10 Key Steps to Immediately Improve Profits
ASA Continues to Monitor CMS Proposed Medicare Fee Schedule Rule