title: Determining successful pain clinic treatment through validation of cost effectiveness.
abstract: Initially, the Center for Pain Control designed and implemented multiple measures to indicate treatment efficacy in an outpatient setting. Decreased use of medical care at 1 year after treatment was one of five measures used. Economic concerns, both in the health and the insurance industries, mandated greater emphasis on cost effectiveness at a primary success determinate. Cost effectiveness was measured through broad diagnostic categories: lumbar pain with or without radiculopathy, cervical pain with and without radiculopathy, and a combination of lumbar and cervical pain. Cost for surgical treatment was determined using community-based charges. This cost was compared to actual cost incurred by outpatient pain treatment together with 6 months aftercare. Significant savings is indicated by the above cost comparison.
authors: Center for Pain Control, San Antonio, Texas.
authors: J W
authors: JW
authors: Simmons
authors: W S
authors: WS
authors: Avant
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Demski
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Parisher
mesh_terms: D000554:Ambulatory Care Facilities; D001416:Back Pain / Q000628:therapy; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D059408:Pain Management; D010166:Palliative Care / Q000191:economics*; D013122:Spinal Diseases / Q000628:therapy; D013126:Spinal Nerve Roots; D013909:Thorax