The Pain Management Center provides physicians with the latest in tools and technology to provide fast, sterile and effective treatments for a wide range of pain sources.
Pre-Registration and Your Costs
The Pain Management Center at The Surgery Center of Huntsville is a state-of-the-art facility designed to promote excellence in patient care. Pain management is a key component in recovering from injury and disease. When cancer, accident or spine and joint disease are involved, however, pain management may not be as simple as taking a pill to feel better, which is why we have created The Pain Management Center, located in the east wing of The Surgery Center.
In our pain management procedure suite, physicians have the latest in tools and technology at their disposal to provide fast, sterile and effective treatments for a wide range of pain sources. Our registered nurses (RNs) — we have over 100 on staff — are Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and IV Conscious Sedation Certified. We will have a Registered Nurse (RN) in the procedure suite with you at all times, as well as a surgical technologist to support your physician.We also have a team of anesthesiologists who are dedicated to The Surgery Center and know our facilities, staff, equipment and procedures.
We have other state-of-the-art facilities at The Surgery Center. In addition to The Pain Management Center, we have sixteen general operating rooms, a Breast Center procedure suite, four Endoscopy Center colonoscopy special procedure rooms and four Eye Center procedure suites. There are also two spacious waiting rooms for family and friends and an Extended Care Center for those patients who need up to 23-hours to stabilize before going home. Our staff and facilities were designed with your complete care and comfort in mind.
The most common procedure for relieving chronic or acute pain that does not respond to physical therapy or medication is the injection of cortisone directly into the spine, joint or soft tissue. Once delivered to the site of swelling and irritation, cortisone can help the area to heal and relieve pain for a number of weeks or months. If patients are going through rehabilitation or physical therapy, these injections may help them participate more easily and heal more effectively. When large joints are involved, steroids may be injected under sterile conditions by highly skilled orthopedists who have learned by experience and touch where to leave the medication. When more detail is required, such as injections placed between vertebrae or joints in the spine, these injections may be guided by fluoroscopy (a type of guided x-ray) that ensures exact placement of the medication and the highest therapeutic benefit.
Once you have checked in and completed any financial paper work, one of our registered nurses will escort you to a procedure room and prepare you for your procedure.You can expect the following things to happen:
We do everything we can to get you in and out as fast as possible, but once you are in our care, you will be there for the full amount of time required to ensure an excellent outcome. Please be considerate of how circumstances may impact schedules.
You may have a wait in Pre-Op as it is not possible to predict exactly how long a procedure will take. So even though we try to run the schedule as tightly as possible, patient care remains our first priority. If the first patient of the morning requires more time in the procedure suite, then that will bump the schedule back and may delay the time that you go in. Just remember that you will be given that same consideration.
Inform your Anesthesiologist about any Dental Appliances such as crowns, bridges or dentures.
Once you are prepared and we are ready to begin your procedure, you will be moved into the pain management suite. This room is designed for ease of use by the medical team. You may find it to be cool. The suite is temperature controlled to establish ideal conditions for medical procedures.
We will respect your dignity as we work to ensure that your procedure is conducted promptly, accurately and safely. When the procedure is complete, you will be moved into a post-op area. An attending nurse will monitor you until your vital signs are stable and your doctor says you are ready to leave — at least an hour.
Your family should be available for the Post-Op conference.
Immediately following your procedure, your physician will most likely go to The Pain Management waiting room to update your family. The family is responsible for being in the area when the surgeon comes out totalk. Your surgeon is probably scheduled to attend another patient, so if he or she does not find your family or agent in the area, they will have to wait for your nurse to get an update. It is your family’s responsibility to be available for this conference.
Remember that you have had an invasive procedure and follow your discharge orders faithfully. Be sure to follow any specific instructions given to you by your physician, as well as the following general guidelines, upon your release The Pain Management Center:
If you have any questions after you have left The Pain Management Center, you must call your physician for answers. If you have any serious complications, call 911 or go to the emergency room at the hospital of your choice immediately. Do not call or return to The Pain Management Center because we do not have staff physicians, nor are we equipped to provide additional treatment or medical care.
To ensure that your day at The Pain Management Center is all about you and your care, you should pre-register for your procedure. You can do this by calling us at 256-533-4888. In addition to reserving your treatment room, we can take care of the financial arrangements prior to your arrival. Our fees will include the costs of preparing for the procedure, the procedure suite, all supplies and equipment, and nursing and staff care, and recovery room care up to the time of your release.
UPON your arrival, you will be asked to present your insurance card and a photo ID. We will file your insurance, but if we have not received payment within 45 days, you will be responsible for the balance. If you are a MEDICAID patient, you will be asked to present a current, valid MEDICAID card.
IF YOU plan to pay cash, or are uninsured, you will be asked to make payment prior to the date of your surgery. If necessary, we can work with you, but arrangements must be made in advance. Prior to admittance, you will be asked to pay the following:
IN ADDITION, you may be billed following your surgery for any unplanned product or service deemed medically necessary by your physician. You may receive separate bills from other doctors and service providers based upon the care and treatment you have received. These billers may include the following:
Your physician will have given you instructions on what you need to do to prepare for your procedure, including specific instructions on what you may eat or drink prior to your procedure. In addition, you should do the following prior to your arrival at The Pain Management Center:
BE SURE to call us at 256-533-4888 to pre-register for your procedure and make financial arrangements.
ENSURE that sure you have an escort to take you to and from The Pain Management Center. You will not be able to drive yourself home. This person will need to remain at The Pain Management Center during your procedure.
You Must Have an Escort.
You will not be able to drive yourself home following your procedure.
MAKE sure you have a list of phone numbers for your important contacts.
DOUBLE check to be sure you have your insurance card and driver’s license or other photo ID.
IF YOU take any herbal supplements, stop taking them at least a week prior to your procedure. This includes doctor recommended supplements, as well as the ones you may be taking on your own.
Do Not Eat, Drink or Smoke after 11:00pm the evening before your procedure.
LEAVE all your valuables at home, including your watch and any rings or earrings, including wedding or commitment rings.
DRESS comfortably and casually in loose clothing and comfortable shoes that you can slip onto your feet.
DOUBLE check your arrival time. It is critical that you arrive on time because you must complete your admission paperwork, get some medical testing done, give your medical history and prepare for your procedure. We schedule our suites to be full throughout the day, so please be considerate of other patients by being on time.
Bring Your Insurance Card and Photo ID.
ROUTINE oral medications should be taken according to your doctor’s instructions.
IF YOU take insulin, aspirin, Coumadin® or other blood thinners, or any appetite suppressants, you need to make certain that your surgeon is aware of them. You may need to follow special instructions prior to your procedure if you take any one of these medications.
IF YOU are pregnant or think you might be pregnant, notify your physician and The Pain Management Center immediately. Anesthesia and other medications may be harmful to a developing fetus. As part of routine pre-surgical testing all women will be asked to give a urine sample for a pregnancy test unless they are surgically- or 5-years-post menopausal.
IF YOU have any changes in your health, report them to your surgeon. Even minor changes such as a scratchy throat, cough, cold or fever could be important information to share.
If for any reason you cannot keep your appointment, please notify us as far in advance as possible by calling 256-533-4888.
Your anesthesia team will include both a board certified Anesthesiologist and a board certified Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) or Anesthesia Assistant (AA). Each one is extensively trained to provide you with the safest anesthesia possible. Our pre-operative exam and questionnaire are designed to help us plan for the safest and most effective anesthesia we can provide. You will have the opportunity to speak with your anesthesia team before your surgery.
Anesthesia is a safe and predictable procedure but, like all medical procedures, it has certain risks that are affected by each patient’s health. Aside from these known factors, there are situations that may not present themselves until the patient has received anesthesia. It is very important that you be aware of the following risks before you undergo any form of anesthesia. This list is not comprehensive, but does outline the most common problems.
EATING or drinking (including gum or mints) after 11:00pm the day before your surgery can cause major complications and may result in the cancellation of your procedure.
YOUR body’s response to medicines given, either during anesthesia or for pain management after, can lead to difficulties and may provoke allergic reactions or lead to medical problems with your heart, lungs or kidneys.
IT IS important to notify your anesthesiologist of any crowns, bridges, dentures or other dental appliances. You will be asked to remove any temporary dental work before going into the operating room, in order to help avoid any damage to dental appliances.
AFTER your surgery, there may be some tenderness to your tongue or lips, you may experience a sore throat and there is a possibility of injury to vocal cords that can lead to difficulty swallowing or breathing.
Please Remember....
Call 256-533-4888 to Pre-register.
Make Sure You Have an Escort.
Do Not Eat or Drink Anything After 11:00PM the Evening Before.
Bring Your Insurance Card and Photo ID.
Inform Your Anesthesiologist About Any Dental Appliances.
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