Why Should You Call Argos?

At Argos NeuroMonitoring, we are of the belief that you should do one thing and do it very well. That is why we focus on providing the highest quality neurophysiological monitoring and diagnostic testing offered anywhere. This is all that we do! We concentrate on offering the utmost care to our patients, from the moment our technologist meets the patient and preps him/her for surgery until the final electrode is removed after the surgery is complete.

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring is widely used to help prevent complications during surgery on the spinal cord, the brain stem, and the cranial nerve. Physicians utilizing neurophysiological monitoring are adding another layer of protection to their surgeries. This additional layer of protection is first and foremost for the patient yet it also extends to the surgeon and the facility where the procedures are performed. Utilizing intraoperative monitoring is like adding additional sets of eyes to watch the integrity of the patient’s central and/or peripheral nervous system.

Damage to a patient’s nervous system during surgery can be catastrophic, not only in terms of long term health care, but also in terms of a patient’s physical suffering. Neurophysiological monitoring provides another line of defense that can protect a person’s quality of life. Using this monitoring the technologist and the reading neurologist can identify nervous system impairment caused by degenerative diseases, congenital anomalies, tumors, or other surgeries. The information about the patient’s neural status can help the surgeon determine whether or not the surgical procedure should be altered in order to improve the outcome.

Neurophysiological monitoring provides critical data about the nervous system and how it performs during surgery while at rest and in response to stimulus. Monitoring is recommended for any surgery or procedure that puts the central nervous system and peripheral nerves at risk. These procedures include:

• Brain or cranial base surgery
• Aortic arch or its branch vessels surgery
• Spinal cord surgery
• Vascular surgery
• Cardiothoracic surgery
• Otolaryngology surgery

Utilizing cutting-edge technology and equipment, Argos’ highly trained technologists work with surgeons to make these surgical procedures safer for the patient while offering an added layer of protection for the surgeon and the hospital. Taking a multi-modality approach that includes IONM, SSEP, EMG, MEP, and TcMEP, Argos presents as complete a neurological picture as is possible. The inherent risk in nerve-related surgeries is dramatically reduced when a surgeon uses monitoring.

In the long term, neurophysiological monitoring can aid in holding down healthcare cost. If changes are reported during a surgery and intervention is implemented right away, the need for corrective follow-up surgery, extended visits for rehab or longer stays in ICU can be avoided. The cost of post-operative medical rehabilitation care and medical/legal problems is far greater than the cost of using intraoperative monitoring.

The Patient

Each patient is thoroughly prepped and assessed before any testing is performed. The technologist takes a brief medical history and talks with the patient regarding allergies or other health issues. A full explanation of what IOM entails is given to the patient, allowing them time to ask any questions they might have. In pre-op the technologist will place special disposable recording and stimulating electrodes on your arms, legs, neck and head. Each electrode site will be prepared with a light abrasive prior to taping electrode in place. These electrodes will be removed after surgery is complete.

Why Outsource?

Hospitals make the decision to outsource many things that are related to patient care and it is a major decision, requiring analysis of the costs and the benefits. Cost of maintaining an in-house program, availability of specialty trained personnel, and hourly flexibility are just a few considerations.

Intraoperative monitoring and diagnostic testing is a very specialized field. The technologist that performs the testing should be highly trained in the most recent techniques and procedures of intraoperative monitoring. OR monitoring is different from performing EEGs and EMGs in the ambulatory setting and requires additional education. Continuing education is very important so that the technologist can stay abreast of new techniques and developments. State of the art equipment should be used in order to guarantee accurate readings and these computers and testing equipment can be quite costly. Argos provides the equipment and the personnel while the hospital can avoid the high costs of salary, benefits, equipment and insurance.

Argos can offer personnel that have maintained their credentialing and deliver a consistent, reliable service at every location where they have the opportunity to deliver patient care.

Medical/Legal Reason to Use IOM

The use of intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring can help protect the hospital and the surgeon if a neurological deficit occurs after surgery and a lawsuit is filed. When baselines are performed prior to surgery and testing performed throughout the surgical procedure the surgeon can show that any changes in the neural responses were noted and addressed by the reading neurologist and the surgeon. Not using IOM could be seen as negligent and could be damaging in a court of law.