The Department of Anesthesiology's Division of Pain Medicine has, in the last 4 years, taken a major step forward in all its activities. By more than doubling its clinical activity and reaching out to other specialties to be truly multidisciplinary, it has built a nationally recognized teaching and research program.

Clinical Activities

Locations: The Pain Program is providing services at both Tisch and Bellevue hospitals and its academic activities are fully integrated. Out-patient clinics and offices exist in both places (5 th floor clinic at Bellevue; 9 th floor clinic at Skirball- Tisch). Due to the rapid expansion of the Pain Management Center, additional office space on the 5 th floor of the Medical building situated at 317 East 34 th street ("White Building"), has been necessary to meet patient demand. The Bellevue Pain Treatment Center has been in operation since 10/1997.

Diagnoses: The pathology of patients referred to the NYU Pain Center often reflects the fact that the Institution [NYUMC] is well known as a tertiary care center. It is not surprising therefore that the widest range of (often complex) pain diagnoses is found, often requiring multidisciplinary management (see infra). All types of pain syndromes are found, with the usual classifications being 'acute', 'chronic non-malignant', and 'cancer' pain.

In-patients: Services are provided to Tisch and Bellevue hospital in-patients in two ways; either by admission for workup of a painful condition, or as request for consultation (usually followed by management) from other specialties. Cases are also separated into 'acute' and 'chronic' pain. At Tisch, in 1999, 403 new in-patients with chronic pain were seen (vs. approximately 200 in1995). At Bellevue, 246 new in-patients were seen. In 1999, 2146 follow-up visits were made to hospitalized chronic pain patients (vs. 878 in 1996) at Tisch; at Bellevue, 643 follow up visits were made. For acute pain (at Tisch), 1195 patients were followed by the pain service in 1999 (vs. 887 in 1995).

Out-patients: 552 new patients were seen in 1999 in the Skirball and the White Building out-patient clinics (vs. 331 in 1996). In the same period, there were 1449 follow-up visits (vs. 475 in 1996). At Bellevue, 302 new outpatients were seen.

Invasive Procedures: Since 1995, the Pain program has concentrated its efforts on providing patients with the entire range of available, clinically proven interventional procedures. These range from all types of injections - muscle, joint, nerves, intra-spinal - to the latest implantation techniques of drug delivery systems and epidural spinal cord stimulators. Procedures volume increased from 373 in 1995 to 1577 in 1999 (1827 including Bellevue).

Alternative Treatments: Psychological management is offered to all pain patients. In addition, several alternative methods of treatment, such as bio-feedback, acupuncture, QiGong, and self-hypnosis are available.

Interdisciplinary Group: For the past three years members from different specialties (physiatry, neurology, anesthesiology, psychiatry, oncology, dentistry, social work, and palliative care) have met weekly to discuss the most challenging patients in order to establish working diagnoses and treatment plans. This multidisciplinary approach has made possible a type of comprehensive care that is not widely available in the New York area.

Back to Top

Personnel

1. The NYU Pain Management Center consists of:
2. An Administrative Coordinator who are in charge of the overall organization of the Tisch Pain Center.
3. A Billing Coordinator.
4. Five Secretaries/Receptionists. (Additional secretarial assistance is contracted out for patients' correspondence.)
5. Three full time Attending Physicians and one part-time Attending Physician.
6. Four Pain Management Nurse Specialists [+1 at Bellevue].
7. One Senior Psychologist [+1 part time psychologist at Bellevue].

Back to Top

Teaching

Additionally, department-wide lectures to residents and attendings occur on a regular basis such as departmental grand rounds, lecture series and M&M meetings. The NYU Pain Management Center also offers an annual CME accredited course through the Post-Graduate School of Medicine on pain management for primary care physicians.

Back to Top

Click here for the website of the NYU Pain Management Center