St. Vincent Charity Medical Center establishes pain management clinic

Friday, November 10, 2017

Tags: St. Vincent Charity Medical Center , health care

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In a comprehensive effort to improve patient overall health and quality of life, St. Vincent Charity Medical Center has partnered with Pain Management Group to open a new center offering a balanced treatment plan to address chronic and acute pain.

“Living with pain not only affects a patient’s immediate health, but often has lasting impact on a patient’s overall physical and mental well-being, their family life, and their careers,” said Dr. David Perse, president and CEO of St. Vincent Charity Medical Center. “In light of the current opioid epidemic plaguing our community, it is critical that we identify effective pain management treatments as an alternative to relying solely on prescription medications.”

The center, which opened Oct. 16, is a department of the hospital providing comprehensive diagnostic and individualized treatment plans that incorporate a variety of modalities, including physical therapy, nerve blocks, spinal injections, medication management and referral for alternative treatment. Acute and chronic conditions treated at St. Vincent Pain Management Center will include those caused by neck and back pain, headaches, fibromyalgia, chronic pelvic pain, complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS), nerve damage, as well as pain associated with arthritis, muscle spasms, and shingles.

“Pain can be caused by a complexity of issues, therefore, our treatment plans need to be just as varied, so we identify the most effective means to provide patients long-term relief,” said John Bookmyer, CEO of PMG. “Through this center, St. Vincent can offer some of today’s most advanced treatments, which are more tolerable and minimally invasive to allow patients to get back to activities of their daily lives.”

It is estimated that more than 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain, which exceeds the number in treatment for diabetes, cancer and coronary heart disease combined. Studies show chronic pain in the United States costs as much as $635 billion per year when considering treatment costs and lost wages.

St. Vincent’s Pain Management Center at 6701 Rockside Road, Suite 100, is staffed by Dr. Jay Vyas, a University of Iowa fellowship-trained pain management physician. A graduate of University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Dr. Vyas completed his residency at MetroHealth Medical Center.

“Lack of access to treatment impacts the entire community through increased health care costs, reduction of workforce and community volunteers, and medication abuse,” Dr. Vyas said. “I am thrilled to return to this great city to serve this community that has given me so much.”

St. Vincent Charity Medical Center is a ministry of the Sisters of Charity Health System.