Comprehensive Pain Management Clinic Opens at Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital

To better support the growing population, Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital in Provo, Utah has opened a new and expanded comprehensive pain management clinic.

Now, patients in Utah County will have access to physical medicine rehab, neurologists, physical therapists, and behavioral health therapists all in one location.

Located in the Sorenson Legacy Tower at Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital, the new pain management clinic is designed with the patient in mind, with all the provider teams on one floor so they can better communicate and coordinate care close to home for the patients.

“The goal is to work as a team with the patient at our center of attention, so patents can leave the clinic looking forward to life and not another appointment,” said Chris Gappmayer, senior practice director for the Intermountain Health Medical Group, “If you think about your families almost all of us have either had a need for these specialties or know someone who has. These specialties are definitely needed in our communities.”

The new clinic is needed. According to the U.S. Centers for Control and Prevention, nearly 20% or 51.6 million Americans experience some form of chronic pain. Research has found that people with chronic pain are four times more likely to have depression or anxiety than those who are pain-free.

The new clinic is designed with patient ease in mind. Right when patients get off the elevator, they will be greeted by someone right in front of them at the reception desk. Patients won’t have to go looking for someone around the corner to help them get to their appointment.

“The guiding principle of the pain clinic has always been compassionate, collaborative care for all. For especially complex patients, a team-based approach is used to target pain in a multifaceted way that includes rehabilitative, psychological, interventional and pharmacological strategies,” said Karen Harward, senior practice manager at Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital’s Pain Management Clinic.

Procedural Suites: The new clinic has added two procedural suites for fluoroscopy guided injections, which are safe and effective diagnostic and therapeutic procedures that take place under a special form of imaging known as a c-arm.

The procedure can help physicians determine the source of pain or discomfort. The rooms are designed to improve patient flow, so caregivers can see more patients and preserve patient privacy with a pre-op and a post-op room.

“Having fluoroscopy and skilled radiology technicians on our floor gives us the opportunity to provide advanced spinal injection procedures to our patients right here within the new clinic space,” said Gappmayer.

Physical Therapy: In the new physical therapy rooms, therapists will provide specialized care so patients can do more with less discomfort through chronic pain management. Physical therapy includes recovery, strength-building post-injury or surgery as well as pelvic floor therapy for pelvic pain, incontinence and other pelvic health concerns.

Neurological Clinic: This new space will help with patient access, allowing Intermountain’s providers to treat more patients with various types of neurological disorders, while also allowing the team to work closely with other specialties. It will allow for more opportunities for neurological evaluations, cognitive assessments, and procedures such as Botox, Electromyography (EMG) a test used to detect neuromuscular abnormalities, and Vagus Nerve Stimulation (VNS) programming which delivers pulses or stimulation at regular intervals to the brain.

Stroke and TIA Clinic: This new space allows the team to see transient ischemic attack (TIA) patients on short notice, identify their risks and begin immediate treatment to prevent future strokes. Having space to work closely with other providers in the neurosciences will allow easy communication, direct collaboration, and correct diagnosis.

Intermountain Health’s pain management clinic team also aims to reduce the stigma associated with pain, improve patient access for pain management resources, and enhance the quality of life for those affected by pain.

“Our hope is that this clinic gives us enough space to continue to grow these service lines in a way we can continue to better serve the Utah County community,” said Harward.

For more information on understanding the difference between chronic pain and acute pain, go here.

For more information on Intermountain Utah Valley’s Pain Clinic and pain management, go here. For up-to-date information and announcements please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://news.intermountainhealth.org.

About Intermountain Health

Headquartered in Utah with locations in six states and additional operations across the western U.S., Intermountain Health is a not-for-profit system of 34 hospitals, approximately 400 clinics, medical groups with some 4,600 employed physicians and advanced care providers, a health plans division called Select Health with more than one million members, and other health services. Helping people live the healthiest lives possible, Intermountain is committed to improving community health and is widely recognized as a leader in transforming healthcare by using evidence-based best practices to consistently deliver high-quality outcomes at sustainable costs. For up-to-date information and announcements, please see the Intermountain Health newsroom at https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.