Determining successful pain clinic treatment through validation of cost effectiveness.

Initially, the Center for Pain Control designed and implemented multiple measures to indicate treatment efficacy in an outpatient setting. Decreased use of medical care at 1 year after treatment was one of five measures used. Economic concerns, both in the health and the insurance industries, mandated greater emphasis on cost effectiveness at a primary success determinate. Cost effectiveness was measured through broad diagnostic categories: lumbar pain with or without radiculopathy, cervical pain with and without radiculopathy, and a combination of lumbar and cervical pain. Cost for surgical treatment was determined using community-based charges. This cost was compared to actual cost incurred by outpatient pain treatment together with 6 months aftercare. Significant savings is indicated by the above cost comparison.