As we speak with our current and prospective urodynamic clients in urology and gynecology about our outsourced urodynamic service, we often receive questions about urodynamic equipment. These questions generally come up under two distinct areas of inquiry.
1) What urodynamic equipment is available if we decide to buy our own urodynamic machine?
2) What are the urodynamics tests involved that we will need to conduct and what do they help to determine?
As for number 1, many of our technicians are trained and experienced conducting urodynamic testing on either of the major urodynamic equipment manufacturers. Though we do not endorse any specific urodynamic equipment manufacturer, we typically use the Life-Tech product line for our urodynamic services conducted on behalf of our clients. We have created a page on our website that lists the major urodynamic equipment manufacturers and links you to their websites. It can be found at urodynamic equipment
Regarding number 2, there are many specific tests that are conducted during a urodynamics study. The following are the tests conducted during the course of one of our standard urodynamic procedures:
Uroflow - This test is done at the very beginning and records the flow rate, volume and pattern.
Filling CMG (cystometrogram) - This test records the activity of the bladder during the course of the filling process. Is it expanding normally? Is it hypersensitive? Is the detrusor overactive.
EMG (electromyography) - Records the neurology throughout the procedure.(after the initial uroflow) Most common neurological problem is bladder sphincter dyssinergia .
VLPP (Valsalva Leak Point Pressure) - Much of the time, the leak in females is due to a fallen (prolapsed) bladder. After about 200 cc’s of filling, we stop and stand the patient up and ask the patient to cough and bear down. We’re trying to recreate the leak. We do it first naturally and then we do it again reduced (reduced simply means that we physically push the bladder up beyond the pelvic line). This is VLPP both reduced and unreduced.
Pressure flow - After the patient is completely full we tell them to go ahead and void. The equipment tells all about what’s happening. Abdominal pressure – are they straining hard to go. Vessical pressure (bladder pressure) How much pressure in the bladder during the void – how hard is the detrusor working. How much volume came out and how fast and in what pattern.
Urodynamic studies provide extremely valuable diagnostic data for any of the following:
Urge incontinence
Stress Incontinence
Urinary retention
Frequency
Nocturia
All other storage and micturition issues
Making sure that both the urodynamic equipment is properly operating and that the technician is experienced enough and well trained to operate it competently is crucial for accurate study reporting. Different from the typical urology clinic, our urodynamic technicians are experts and highly experienced as this is what they do. Our urodynamic uro-gynecology clients see the advantages we bring to their practice without additional expense of urodynamic equipment and the expertise our technicians deliver during each test. Some additional benefits we deliver when you outsource urodynamic testing can be found here.
Urodynamics testing can be very beneficial in determining the exact cause of your patients' incontinence symptoms. Proper urodynamic study reports will enable you to properly diagnose and move toward treatment that will have dramatic impacts on your patients' health.
Get more information at www.mobile-uro.com
Monday, October 20, 2008
Monday, October 6, 2008
Urodynamics in the current economic climate – Buy urodynamic equipment or outsource urodynamics?
Current economic and lending conditions could affect manufacturers of all types of medical equipment, including urodynamic equipment. With the economy on unstable ground and massive impact on lending availability in the marketplace, Urologists, Gynecologists and urology clinics that have been considering purchasing urodynamic equipment are reconsidering.
During the economic climate that is facing the US and the world, it is quite possible that there will be a significant increase in the number of Americans who lose their employment, resulting in loss of their employer provided medical insurance. What does this mean to the medical marketplace, urology clinics, OB-GYN and urologist practices? It could mean many things, including:
1) A significant portion of the population will be without any form of insurance and finding enough patients to warrant the purchase of new urodynamic equipment will be difficult at best.
2) It could also mean that the government will step in and provide some form of watered-down or catastrophic-only insurance. Given the political climate, this is a likely outcome.
These two possible scenarios could mean that a large portion of urologic and urodynamic procedures will not be authorized, or if they are, reimbursements could be reduced to lower levels. In these scenarios, the investment required to purchase a urodynamics machine and other related urodynamics equipment is making many Doctors wait. Rightly so…
Urologists and Gynecologists could be facing a situation where they will be understandably, very hesitant to make significant investments in equipment. It is likely that we will see a massive decrease in equipment sales and a moderate increase in revenue to outsourced urodynamic testing services.
Following are some of the average costs involved with purchasing urodynamics equipment:
Average cost of urodynamic equipment is $19,000
Average cost of urodynamic training is $2500
Average cost of urodynamic supplies is $60 per urodynamic study.
Average cost of urodynamics labor is roughly $50 per urodynamic study.
Total Average cost per urodynamic study is $110.
Average reimbursement per urodynamic study is $950
Additionally, many OBGYN and Urology clinics are also taking into account the significant nuances related to urodynamics and how important it is to have highly experienced urodynamic technicians conducting the studies.
Where does this all leave the marketplace? Outsourcing. When we say outsourcing, it can have a negative implication such as in the manufacturing and customer service industries that have sent American jobs overseas by the thousands. In this case, outsourcing your urodynamics testing simply means that you have a professional service provide the expertise, the staff, the equipment and supplies. All services are performed in your offices, with your patients.
Many clinics in this economic climate are taking another look at urodynamic equipment purchases and deciding to outsource.
For more information on outsourcing your clinics urodynamics testing, visit http://www.mobile-uro.com/
During the economic climate that is facing the US and the world, it is quite possible that there will be a significant increase in the number of Americans who lose their employment, resulting in loss of their employer provided medical insurance. What does this mean to the medical marketplace, urology clinics, OB-GYN and urologist practices? It could mean many things, including:
1) A significant portion of the population will be without any form of insurance and finding enough patients to warrant the purchase of new urodynamic equipment will be difficult at best.
2) It could also mean that the government will step in and provide some form of watered-down or catastrophic-only insurance. Given the political climate, this is a likely outcome.
These two possible scenarios could mean that a large portion of urologic and urodynamic procedures will not be authorized, or if they are, reimbursements could be reduced to lower levels. In these scenarios, the investment required to purchase a urodynamics machine and other related urodynamics equipment is making many Doctors wait. Rightly so…
Urologists and Gynecologists could be facing a situation where they will be understandably, very hesitant to make significant investments in equipment. It is likely that we will see a massive decrease in equipment sales and a moderate increase in revenue to outsourced urodynamic testing services.
Following are some of the average costs involved with purchasing urodynamics equipment:
Average cost of urodynamic equipment is $19,000
Average cost of urodynamic training is $2500
Average cost of urodynamic supplies is $60 per urodynamic study.
Average cost of urodynamics labor is roughly $50 per urodynamic study.
Total Average cost per urodynamic study is $110.
Average reimbursement per urodynamic study is $950
Additionally, many OBGYN and Urology clinics are also taking into account the significant nuances related to urodynamics and how important it is to have highly experienced urodynamic technicians conducting the studies.
Where does this all leave the marketplace? Outsourcing. When we say outsourcing, it can have a negative implication such as in the manufacturing and customer service industries that have sent American jobs overseas by the thousands. In this case, outsourcing your urodynamics testing simply means that you have a professional service provide the expertise, the staff, the equipment and supplies. All services are performed in your offices, with your patients.
Many clinics in this economic climate are taking another look at urodynamic equipment purchases and deciding to outsource.
For more information on outsourcing your clinics urodynamics testing, visit http://www.mobile-uro.com/
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