intraoperative neuromonitoring services

SpecialtyCare

SpecialtyCare is the largest provider of intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) services in the nation, with 110,000 cases every year.

What is Intraoperative Neuromonitoring or IONM?

Intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) is the continuous surveillance of a patient’s nervous system (the brain, spinal cord, and nerves) when it can be at risk of injury during surgery. The purpose of IONM is to protect the nervous system.

Depending on the procedure, a variety of tests can be used to measure nervous system function. Usually, IONM works by delivering electrical impulses to the nervous system and measuring their effect. To gather this information, electrodes are attached to the wrists, ankles, scalp, and sometimes to specific muscle groups, depending on the type of surgery.

A trained clinician (surgical neurophysiologist), under the supervision of a qualified IONM physician, constantly monitors the information from the tests. When significant neurophysiological change is detected, the IONM team provides immediate feedback to the surgeon, anesthesiologist and nurses who can respond quickly to minimize the chances of long-term post-operative injury.

IONM provides an extra layer of safety for both the surgeon and most importantly, the patient.

A patient’s insurance carrier may pay for a portion of the costs associated with IONM. This amount depends on the specific carrier and insurance plan. Patients can contact their insurance provider to find out about coverage for IONM. Patients and surgeons should consider the advantages of preventative IONM services compared with the risks and costs of serious neurological complications.

What SpecialtyCare Provides

Specialty Care’s clinical staff has a proven history of research and innovation in IONM. We were among the first to introduce the common use of transcranial motor evoked potentials in monitoring spine and intracranial surgery. We’ve also customized techniques for monitoring nerve root function during spine surgery, brachial plexus function during shoulder reconstruction, and sciatic nerve function during pelvic surgery. We provide the industry’s most advanced clinical neuroscience services, including neurophysiological mapping during deep brain stimulation surgery, monitoring during interventional neuroradiology, transcranial doppler evaluations in the intensive care unit, and support of long-term EEG monitoring.

IONM Accreditation and Certification

Our surgical neurophysiologists have eight years of experience in IONM on average. We also have the most staff with Certification in Neurophysiologic Intraoperative Monitoring (CNIM) and the most diplomats certified by the American Board of Neurophysiologic Monitoring (DABNM) in the industry. Specialty Care’s neurophysiologists are thoroughly evaluated and granted clinical privileges based on performance in specific surgical procedures. Clinical competency is reviewed on an annual basis, fostering continuous improvement and advancement of skillset. SpecialtyCare holds both accreditation and certification from The Joint Commission (TJC), and we are the first IONM clinical services provider to have a neuromonitoring training program that is formally recognized by ABRET, the Neurodiagnostic Credentialing and Accreditation Board.

Our surgical neurophysiologists work alongside the world’s leading surgeons, tracking nervous system activity in real time to identify and act on any early signs of evolving neural injury. We’ve got the patient’s back. Always.

Surgeons expect skilled, familiar people in the OR who they can trust and rely on to monitor their cases. Maintaining a highly competent hospital-based program can be difficult. Our experienced clinicians and monitoring physicians step in to serve as an extension of the OR team, ensuring both patient safety and surgeon satisfaction.