IONM Data and Innovation

SpecialtyCare stands out from the competition in the intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) space in a number of ways, including our investment in cutting edge research. Our innovation knows no bounds and what helps us lead the charge is our own collection of rich data. SCOPE- the SpecialtyCare Operative Procedural Registry™ is the largest procedural database of its kind and it’s one of the biggest tools we have at our disposal that helps us continuously improve and advance. No one else has it.

How is SCOPE Used?

One of the benefits of being the largest provider of IONM services in the country is our vast network, which stretches coast-to-coast across the U.S. Our clinicians monitor a wide range of complex cases and that gives us a huge advantage when it comes to data collection. Every day, for every case, the data is fed into SCOPE, creating a giant shared network of information accessible by SpecialtyCare clinicians, who can then analyze and discuss cases with colleagues. SpecialtyCare also employs its own medical department which uses the data in SCOPE to stay ahead of the curve in IONM innovation and to publish peer-reviewed research in scientific journals, like PLOS One, the Journal of Neurosurgery, and the Journal of ExtraCorpeal Technology. Our team shares this research with other leaders in the healthcare industry at annual medical conferences, such as the Hospital O.R. and Surgical Conference and the AmSECT Conference. SCOPE propels our efforts for continuous improvement and better patient outcomes.

Innovation in IONM

While SCOPE is a database tool used for all service lines, SpecialtyCare also invests in research specific to IONM. Here are some of the other ways we’ve stayed on the frontline of research and refined the field of intraoperative neuromonitoring:

• Our team is continuing to develop new mapping techniques for deep brain stimulation surgery and has published findings on a spinal cord mapping technique.
• We were among the first wave of clinicians to introduce the routine use of tceMEPs (transcranial electric motor evoked potentials) in spine and intracranial surgery
• We have developed very specific anesthesia protocols over recent years that meet all the goals and needs of the anesthesiologist without compromising any IONM data, boosting speed and clarity in translating any neurophysiologic change.
• In a study of more than 8,400 patients, cervical spine patients who had surgeries that included IONM were less likely to be prescribed opiates within the year following surgery.

To learn more about research at SpecialtyCare, please visit our research page here. If you’re interested in beginning a career in neuromonitoring, click here.