Urodynamics and Incontinence

Increase of urinary incontinence in the aging population begs for proper diagnosis.

2008-12-09T14:22:00.000-08:00

According to the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), primary care physicians are now seeing patients complaining of urinary incontinence as one of the most prevalent issues in their practices. This condition is expected to continue to grow right along with the aging and increasing population of baby-boomers. As a matter of fact this condition has become more prevalent than many more commonly discussed ailments such as diabetes and even Alzheimer’s. But the most concerning fact regarding patients suffering from urinary incontinence is that it is estimated that some 50% have never discussed their problem with their doctor.

The dramatic facts of this condition effecting such a large amount of individuals within the population screams for physicians and specialty doctors in urology and uro-gynecology to take notice. Urinary incontinence is an overall condition that can have numerous symptoms even though the general condition is the same.

Many urology and OBGYN clinics are also beginning to see the incidents of patients discussing urinary incontinence increasing within their practices. These physicians are leading the way to proper diagnosis by taking a thorough approach to the process, through urodynamic testing. We know that no doctor desires to have a patient endure an unnecessary surgery or wants to prescribe medication for an incorrect condition; therefore it is essential to determine the nature and cause of the incontinence.

Given the staggering figures surrounding urinary incontinence, there are two significant things that physicians should be doing:

1) Talk to patients – Doctors should be approaching this issue with their patients rather than waiting for the issue to be brought up by their patient. For many elderly patients, this issue can be overwhelming and a cause for great embarrassment. Having understanding and being proactive is not only sound advice, but a requirement.

2) Add Urodynamics – Since urodynamic testing provides thorough and detailed statistics of potential causes of urodynamics, physicians and clinics need to consider utilizing an experienced urodynamic testing service or making the investment in urodynamic equipment, supplies and most importantly staff training and skill.

With the rise of urinary incontinence becoming so prevalent, both patients and doctors share in the responsibility of a positive outcome. Patients need to feel comfortable to raise the issue with their doctors and physicians must create an environment where the discussion is proactive and the path to proper diagnosis and treatment is clear.

Additional statistics for Urology and Gynecology clinics to consider:

According to the National Association for Continence, Urinary incontinence is a very personal issue, which affects as many as 25 million Americans -- young and old, male and female.

Over 800,000 urodynamic tests are conducted annually in the US according to the centres for Medicare and Medicaid.

MOBILE URODYNAMICS GROUP EXPANDS AGAIN IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

2008-12-05T15:38:00.000-08:00

Mobile Urodynamics Group continues its national expansion with additional account reps in California.

Rochester, Washington December 5, 2008 –
Precision Urodynamics, LLC/Mobile Urodynamics Group, the nations largest urodynamics testing company today announced the addition of sales professionals in Southern California. The two new account executives deliver additional service and sales coverage from Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, down to San Diego.

Denise Bushey in Los Angeles and Gloria Cecilia Rodriguez in San Diego allow us to better penetrate the largest territory we have been servicing for several years, said Darren Prescott, CEO Precision Urodynamics. “These additions to our sales team will focus on introducing the vast Urology and OBGYN markets to the advantages and financial benefits we offer in outsourcing urodynamics.”

Denise, a veteran of the LA market is focused on urologists that have previously made investments in urodynamic equipment, staff and supplies, as well as introducing uro-gynecologists to the benefits of patient retention and revenue through our service. "I was originally shocked to find out that 60% of our clients already had their own urodynamic equipment” said Bushey. “They are quickly realizing the benefits that Mobile Urodynamics Group delivers and how we remove the staffing and expense hassles of conducting urodynamic tests in-house with a financial and patient option that previously didn’t exist."

Gloria Rodriguez is a senior Pharmaceutical sales rep that has been calling in the urology field for many years, brings deep experience working with urologists to improve patient care. Gloria commented, "I am excited how my long-time Urology clients are quickly opening up to our urodynamic services with no overhead. The value we deliver to the doctor and the patient comfort of going to the same office ensures everyone is happy. I’m proud that I am able to continue promoting quality patient care and work with the best in the business!"

Mobile Urodynamics Group, the marketing and relationship arm of Precision Urodynamics, LLC provides specialized in-office urodynamics testing for Urology and OBGYN clinics nationally. As the nations largest urodynamics testing company, Mobile Urodynamics delivers the benefits of highly experienced urodynamics without the costs associated with specialized equipment, supplies and staff, while enabling patients to receive the best urinary incontinence testing in the familiar location of their doctors office.

About Mobile Urodynamics Group

Mobile Urodynamics Group, the nations largest outsourced urodynamics testing company, provides OBGYN’s, clinics and urologists with in-office urodynamics testing. The unique services include all urodynamic supplies, equipment and a professional urodynamic technician, allowing their clients to expand their services to patients, lower costs and increase revenues.

Contact

R. Caruso

503-939-8158

www.mobile-uro.com

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Los Angeles Information | San
Diego Information

MOBILE URODYNAMICS GROUP EXPANDS PRESENCE IN NEW ENGLAND STATES

2008-11-18T11:42:00.000-08:00

Added sales team expertise continues urodynamic company’s expansion and national dominance.

Rochester, Wash November 18, 2008 – Precision Urodynamics, LLC/Mobile Urodynamics Group, the nations largest urodynamics testing company today announced the addition of two experienced Pharmaceutical and Medical sales professionals in New England. The two new account executives bring a combined 37 years experience working with clinics and medical practices across the New England territory.

“We’re proud to have attracted talent of the caliber that Kathy McKenna and Gary Mahoney bring to our company, said Darren Prescott, CEO Precision Urodynamics. “Expanding our team and presence in New England with these two veterans allows us to more rapidly expand in the New England market and better serve our prospects and clients in the region.”

Kathy McKenna, heading the Boston South region of New England is responsible for the Metro Boston, Rhode Island and Connecticut territory, while Gary Mahoney is covering Northern Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine. Kathy and Gary bring over 37 years of industry experience in the pharmaceutical and medical fields. Kathy spent time at Novartis, Allergan Inc., Eisai Inc.and Sanfoi-Adenvtis Inc., where she was responsible for marketing such products as Reclast®, Botox®, Aricept®, Aciphex® and Cardizem IV®, as well as building and supervising field sales forces. "I really am excited to join Mobile Urodynamics Group and continue my work improving patients lives, while supporting physicians to improve revenue and properly diagnosis and treat their patients. Mobile Urodynamics Group provides a unique avenue for Urologists and OBGYN’s to outsource their urodynamic tests by qualified support staff, thus enabling them to see more patients in this ever changing post baby boom era".

Mobile Urodynamics Group, the marketing and relationship arm of Precision Urodynamics, LLC provides specialized in office urodynamics testing for Urology and OBGYN clinics nationally. As the nations largest urodynamics testing company, Mobile Urodynamics delivers the benefits of highly experienced urodynamics without the costs associated with specialized equipment, supplies and staff, while enabling patients to receive the best urinary incontinence testing in the familiar location of their doctors office.

About Mobile Urodynamics Group

Mobile Urodynamics Group, the nations largest outsourced urodynamics testing company, provides OBGYN’s, clinics and urologists with in-office urodynamics testing. The unique services include all urodynamic supplies, equipment and a professional urodynamic technician, allowing their clients to expand their services to patients, lower costs and increase revenues.

Contact

Robert M. Caruso
503-939-8158
http://www.mobile-uro.com

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The Value of a Urodynamic Study

2008-11-13T15:27:00.000-08:00

The confusion felt in many Urologist and OBGYN's minds as to the role of urodynamics has diminished greatly over the past 10 years. It has become increasingly clear that urodynamics provide quantifiable data to support a clinical assessment for many incontinence issues.

As urodynamics has become more and more accepted and utilized for evaluation and diagnosis, interesting information have increasingly come to light. For example: Lower Urinary Tract Symptoms (LUTS) have been shown to be misleading by a varying degree. Most data shows that only about 60% of patients presenting stress incontinence conditions actually have stress incontinence. This leaves 40% of patients presenting these conditions that actually have something else as the root cause.

The lower urinary tract during both filling and emptying is a dynamic system. Since it is dynamic it makes sense to use a dynamic investigation tool to accurately determine the cause of problems. Urodynamics provides the detailed, dynamic and thorough diagnostics needed to accurately investigate the cause of a patients incontinence issue.

It is important to note that it is possible to make an accurate diagnosis without the use of urodynamics and urodynamic testing isn’t a guarantee of an accurate diagnosis. That being said, a good urodynamic study conducted by an experienced technician is far more likely to provide an accurate diagnosis and prevent erroneous treatment and even unnecessary surgeries.

Get more information at http://www.mobile-uro.com/

Urodynamic Equipment

2008-10-20T11:09:00.000-07:00

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

Urodynamics in the current economic climate – Buy urodynamic equipment or outsource urodynamics?

2008-10-06T15:30:00.000-07:00

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/

What is Mobile Urodynamics Group

2008-09-30T14:48:00.000-07:00

This is one question that we often get when speaking with a new prospective client. Others are how do we outsource our urodynamics? What is the benefit to outsourcing our urodynamic testing? What are the logistics invloved with your urodynamic testing?

In order to simplify these and many other questions about contract urodynamics, the benefits of outsourcing urodynamics and how easy we make it, we decided to start off our blog with an interview with the founder and CEO of Mobile Urodynamics. Click to watch the video below.