ASIPP is pleased to annouce a new member benifit. You can now log on to the ASIPP Member's Only Web page to discuss issues important interventional pain management issues.

The service will be available to all active members in good-standing. We encourage you to log on, view and participate the new feature.

'MemberSite' Home Page: http://asippmember site.org Name: ASIPP Password: member (Case sensitive)

Member Blog: Once on the "Members Only" page, click on the "Members Blog" button to access or use the link indicated to go directly to the blog. http://asippme mbersite.org/blog Name: ASIPP Password: memberblog (Case sensitive)

We will soon have available a "Dr Finder" site to enable members to search for other members by name, location, and/or specialty. Watch for updates on this.

The Pain Physician journal has been accepted for coverage in the Thomson's ISI Web of Knowledge/Web of Science. Beginning Jan. 2009 coverage of Pain Physician will start beginning with the Jan/Feb 2008 issue.

The evaluation process for this prestigious listing consists of evaluation of many criteria such as, Basic Journal Publishing Standards (including Timeliness of publication, adherence to International Editorial Conventions, English Language Bibliographic Information (including English article titles, keywords, author abstracts, and cited references).

Thomson Reuters also examines the journal's Editorial Content, the International Diversity of it authors and editors. Citation Analysis using Thomson Reuters data is applied to determine the journal's citation history and/or the citation history of its authors and editors. Current Contents® - Clinical Medicine Contents is the premier current awareness tool for researchers everywhere Source: Institute for Scientific Information Current Contents® Clinical Medicine provides access to complete bibliographic information from articles, editorials, meeting abstracts, commentaries, and all other significant items in recently published editions of over 1,120 of the world's leading clinical medicine journals and books in a broad range of categories.

Science Citation Index ExpandedTM, accessed via Web of Science®, provides researchers, administrators, faculty, and students with quick, powerful access to the bibliographic and citation information they need to find research data, analyze trends, journals and researchers, and share their findings.

ISI Web of Knowledge/Web of Science allows users to focus on the essential data from over 6,650 of the world's leading scientific and technical journals across 150 disciplines. Comprehensive and Relevant Coverage: Every journal included in Science Citation Index ExpandedTM has met the high standards of an objective evaluation process that eliminates clutter and excess and delivers data that is accurate, meaningful and timely.

On September 17, 2008, the Office of Inspector General (OIG) posted a report (OEI-05-07-00200) entitled, "Medicare Payments for Facet Joint Injection Services."

The major finding listed in the report is that an estimated 63% of facet joint injection services allowed by Medicare in 2006 did not meet Medicare program requirements, which resulted in approximately $96 million in improper payments. Medicare payments for facets have more than doubled between 2003 and 2006.

However, the data showed a comparatively low error rate (in an office setting sample) for interventional pain management (IPM). The percentage of services with an error for IPM was reported as 12%, by far lower than other specialties studied (see page 27 table 14 in the OIG report).

Recommendations are to strengthen the program safeguards to prevent improper payment for facet joint injections services, clarify billing instructions for bilateral services and take appropriate action regarding the undocumented, medically unnecessary, and miscoded services identified in the report.

The December Cadaver Workshop, Dec. 5- 7 , will feature instruction in basic, intermediate and intradiscal therapy procedures. The workshop will be preceded by a review course in fluoroscopic interpretation with an optional competency examination.

The course will be held in Memphis, TN at the Westin Memphis Beale Street and the Medical Education & Research Institute (MERI).

Register by Nov. 4 to receive the early registration discount.

When booking your room at the Westin Memphis Beale Street, please inform the agent you are booking under ASIPP to receive the discounted group rate. Cut- off date for hotel discount is Nov. 4.

The Washington State Society has created a survey for Interventional Pain Medicine physicians for the purpose of gathering information from practitioners who have actual experience with Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and Practice Management systems.

The survey goal is to collect enough data to help those who are in the process of EMR evaluating systems for purchase. The results will hopefully help to minimize purchase mistakes and save IPM physicians time and money.

The survey goal is to collect enough data to help those who are in the process of EMR evaluating systems for purchase. The results will hopefully help to minimize purchase mistakes and save IPM physicians time and money.

Click on the link the link below to particiapate in the survey and please share it with your colleauges.

While there are many potential pitfalls inherent in ASC operations, at the end of the day, what really matters is whether your center has a large enough case volume. Without the cases, all other topics become moot. This article will examine four ways to ramp up case volume, your ASC's driving force. (Merrill, Becker's ASC Review, October 6, 2008).

Women appear to respond better than men to chronic pain treatment, and men who smoke appear to receive even less of benefit, a new study says.

The Mayo Clinic study, presented Saturday at the American Society of Anesthesiologists annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., involved more than 1,200 men and women admitted to a three-week outpatient pain treatment program. It aimed to restore physical functionality, and reduce or eliminate use of medications for chronic pain.

Narcotic pain-relief prescriptions for injured U.S. troops have jumped from 30,000 a month to 50,000 since the Iraq war began, raising concerns about the drugs' potential abuse and addiction, says a leading Army pain expert. (Zoroya, USA Today, October 21, 2008).

ASIPP is now offering a new feature for those who advertise on our Positions Wanted section of the ASIPP Website. As a service to our advertisers and our members, please find the link to each current job posting.

Fellows hip Trained Physician - Northwest Indiana

Out patient Interventional Pain Physician - Atlanta, Georgia

Pain Management Opportunity - Pennsylvania

Entrepre neurial Opportunity - Lake Tahoe, Nevada

Florida Opportunities

Pain Medicine Fellowship Program Opportunity

BC/ BE Physiatrist - Shrewsbury, New Jersey

Part nership Opportunity - Milwaukee, Wisconsin

100% Pain Practice - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Natio nal Pain Institute - Florida

Interv entional Pain Specialist - Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

MAYO CLINIC - Cardiac Anesthesiologist

Interven tional Pain Physiatrist Wanted - Nevada