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Treating Chronic Pain
Author: | Friday August 29, 2008
Ira Fox, M.D., right, with pain medicine pioneer Gabor Racz, M.D.
Keeping Focus on Patient
Treating Chronic Pain
Physician's Life's Work
Ira Fox, M.D., is the co-founder of Anesthesia Pain Care Consultants, Inc., (APCC, is a newly elected member of the Advisory Board of the World Institute of Pain which is planning its 2009 conference, and is an examiner for physicians seeking to become a Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice.
His practice, founded with colleague Jay Lasner, M.D. in 1996 has consulted with almost 50,000 new patients and he and his associates have performed countless procedures to relieve pain.
With that kind of experience and opportunity for world travel and recognition, what is the thing Dr. Fox loves most about his work? "It is an honor to be able to make people feel better, to relieve their pain and help them get on with their lives. It is something that motivates me and urges me on to try and do every procedure better than the last time," Dr. Fox told the Voice.
With a large practice in South Florida Dr. Fox could manage his business and travel on behalf of his profession but the challenges of hands-on medicine keep him focused on patients. "I believe strongly in making the right diagnosis and this comes with experience. I also believe that the techniques used in procedures are extremely important in getting the appropriate results. Every pain physician knows the types of procedures used in treating pain, but it is the accuracy of the procedure that is critical," he said. "This is also something that relies heavily on experience."
As an examiner for the Fellow of Interventional Pain Practice, Dr. Fox will travel to Budapest in September to take part with other physicians from around the world. Applicants are required to perform a procedure on a cadaver under the close scrutiny of two examiners. Several years ago Dr. Fox was the 59th doctor in the world to pass the exam and also had the highest score that year.
The desire to be precise in such important matters is serving Dr. Fox and APCC well as new laws have changed the way medical care is delivered, particularly in workers' compensation. "The system requires a high level of efficiency in documentation and reporting. And at the same time we have to remember that our purpose is to help the individuals coming to us for treatment," Dr. Fox pointed out.
And there is a growing number of patients. "This country spends over $100 billion a year for spinal problems, double what it was in 1997. I have also read statistics that indicated that 25% of adults in this country have reported low back pain in just the last six months."
Regardless of numbers and changes in the law, Dr. Fox is clear on his mandate. "Our focus is still concentrated on finding the source of an individual's pain and treating it in the most efficient and cost effective manner to help the injured worker return to the or her previous function."
Ed. Note: Anesthesia Pain Care Consultants, Inc. (APCC) has several South Florida locations but the main office is in Tamarac, FL. The practice specializes in all types of interventional pain management by Board Certified, Fellowship Trained Physicians. Call 954-720-3188 or visit www.appccfl.com, www.anesthesiapaincare.com.
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