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 The Pain Management Center at Saint Margaret Mercy in Hammond and Dyer, Ind., is a unique, premiere facility committed to providing the highest quality, interdisciplinary team pain services in Northwest Indiana.
Background information
In 1980, Saint Margaret Mercy opened the Pain Management Center in answer to an expressed need in the community for quality pain management services for people seeking relief from pain. For the past 20 years, the Pain Management Center has demonstrated a commitment to its patients and healthcare providers by meeting their needs with quality services and technology.
The Pain Management Center team consistently strives to maintain the highest standards in the management of pain. Our commitment to excellence has gained the attention of the Health Care Advisory Board in Washington, D.C., which frequently contacts our center for advisory needs and to assist other facilities interested in opening pain programs.
The Team
The Pain Management Center team is professionally trained and delivers quality services that are on the cutting edge of pain management technology and methodology. The Pain Center’s expertise, experience and reputation in pain management are recognized in the Midwest and on a national level. We have gained this respect through our vast experience in educating patients and professionals, consulting contracts and training healthcare providers.
We have treated thousands of patients experiencing acute pain, chronic non-malignant pain and cancer pain through an integrated team approach comprised of board-certified medical doctors, nurses, clinical psychologists, physical therapists and occupational therapists. The team has developed a systematic method for treating pain, to maximize the quality and efficiency of services for patients. Our approach includes daily team case-review conferences, documentation, productivity, quality assessment and assurance, patient/community/professional education, consulting contracts and marketing.
Goals
The Pain Management Center’s experienced staff shares a common goal: to increase comfort and facilitate each patient’s return to a productive and optimal level of functioning, thereby increasing quality of life.
The foundation of our philosophy is reflected in the following additional team goals:
- Improve pain control through conservative methods.
- Reduce psychological stress.
- Improve mood, sleep dysfunction and coping skills.
- Contain program costs.
- Relieve drug dependency.
- Use non-narcotic analgesics, if feasible.
- Promote learning to function within pain limitations.
- End the relentless search for a cure.
To achieve these goals, emphasis is placed on the individuality of each person, by designing detailed treatment plans, providing quality services, striving to improve the long-term outcomes for patients and achieving the satisfaction of each of our customers.
Program Components
Medical and Psychological evaluations
Patients receive an individualized, detailed medical history and physical examination. Behavioral services are comprised of a behavioral-psycho-social evaluation, testing, counseling and support services.
- Treatment Interventions
- Individualized treatment planning
- Daily team case review conferences
- Family conferences
- Medication management
- Physical therapy
- Occupational therapy
- Functional capacity evaluations
- Work hardening
- Nerve blocks
- Fluoroscopic procedures
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- Stress management
- Support group
- Massage therapy
- Cryoanalgesia
- Radio frequency ablation
- Spinal cord stimulation
- Epidural endoscopy
- Implanting pumps for:
- Spasticity problems
- Pain medication
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Education
Improving the patient’s knowledge and understanding of the pain problem is critical to the success of our program. Emphasis is placed on the mechanism of injury or pain problem, body mechanics, pharmacology needs, activities of daily living, mood, sleep function, management of stressors, ability to relax, coping skills, functional abilities and the provision of clear, concise information and instructions related to procedures. Education is an ongoing process in which both individual and group settings are used.
Educational Programs
The Pain Management Center continually provides educational programs to community, industrial, private and professional organizations.
Quality Monitoring
The Pain Management Center consistently strives to improve patient outcomes and services through a team-developed system for monitoring services. The center has participated in numerous Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) and Board of Health surveys.
Customer Services
We routinely survey our patients, referral sources, payors and employers to ensure satisfaction with our services.
Professional Services
The Pain Management Center offers consulting contracts to healthcare facilities/practices interested in developing an interdisciplinary pain management team. |