Orlando Pain and Spine Center OpensAmr Badawy, MD, celebrated the opening of the Orlando Pain & Spine Center this past November. It is conveniently located across from Dr. P. Phillips Hospital, at 7364 Stonerock Cr, in Orlando. Badawy is a Board Certified Pain Medicine Specialist. He completed his training in aesthesiology at Hahnemann University in Philadelphia and interventional pain management at Mount Sinai hospital in New York. Dr. Badawy's philosophy includes a multidisciplinary approach to treat pain and suffering. The  Orlando Pain & Spine Center offers advanced treatment options to restore quality of life, treating back pain, neuropathic pain, knee and hip pain, cancer pain, headaches, whiplash injury, post laminectomy pain, complex regional pain and myofacial pain.www.orlandopainandspine.comFlorida Pain is Enrolling Patients in a Research Clinical TrialChronic pain is a growing health issue in the U.S. today. Defined as pain lasting longer than six months after an injury has healed, it is estimated that more than 100 million Americans suffer from chronic pain annually. Chronic pain can impact a sufferer’s ability to lead a productive working, social and family life. Many patients undergo years of testing and doctors’ visits without a long-term solution.Neuropathic pain is induced by an injury or disease of the nervous system. A common cause of neuropathic pain is post-surgical nerve damage, which occurs in up to 35 percent of patients who undergo hernia surgery and 50 to 85 percent of patients who undergo amputations. Other causes include nerve damage caused by trauma or diseases such as Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS). Neuropathic pain is difficult to treat. Strong medications like opioids can provide relief, but may not always be an effective long-term treatment option. For many years, neurostimulation has been used to treat neuropathic pain. One of the most popular forms being stimulation of the spinal cord where leads are implanted in the epidural space, an area around the spinal cord. A neurostimulator sends pulses to the leads.  It is implanted in the abdominal wall or buttock, and is controlled via an external remote control.Dr. Stan Golovac of Florida Pain Merritt Island is participating in a national study along with nearly two dozen sites across the country to evaluate a potential new therapy for chronic lower limb pain. The investigational Axium™ Neurostimulator System is the only spinal cord stimulation system that targets a branch of spinal cord called the dorsal root ganglion (DRG).The Dorsal Root Ganglion (DRG) plays a critical role in the development and maintenance of chronic pain, as it processes pain signals as they travel to the brain. By stimulating the DRG, the Axium System interrupts pain signals before they travel to the brain. Recently published European data from a non-randomized study found that 78 percent of patients experienced pain relief in the lower limbs.Florida Pain is now enrolling patients in the ACCURATE study, a prospective, randomized, multi-center, controlled trial to determine the safety and efficacy of the Axium™ Neurostimulator System for chronic neuropathic pain affecting their lower limbs (such as the leg, foot, or groin). To qualify for the ACCURATE study, patients must fit the following inclusion/exclusion criteria:

Male or Female between the ages of 22 and 75

Have had chronic pain affecting lower limbs for at least six months

Have not seen lasting success with other treatments and

Have not previously used spinal cord stimulation for chronic pain.

For more information, or to see if your patient may qualify for the ACCURATE study, please visit www.ACCURATEstudy.com or call 888-978-8397.CAUTION: The Axium Neurostimulator System is an investigational device and is limited by United States law to investigational use. Florida Hospital Cardiologist is First in Orlando to Use New TechnologyCardiologist Dr. Rohit Bhatheja from Florida Hospital is the first cardiologist in Orlando to perform atherectomy (removal of plaque from inside an artery) with the Diamondback 360 Coronary Orbital Atherectomy System (OAS) from Cardiovascular Systems, Inc. (CSI.) The system gained U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval on October 21, 2013, and is the first and technology approved for the treatment of severely calcified coronary arteries. Dr. Bhatheja used OAS technology in the cardiac cath lab to treat a patient with coronary artery disease by removing the calcium inside the artery.The Diamondback 360 provides a solution for patients with this calcium buildup problem by reducing calcified plaque and facilitating stent deployment with low complications. The ORBIT II trial is the first study in history designed to treat severely calcified lesions.The Diamondback 360 is a 1.25-millimeter catheter that works by spinning around inside the artery to “sand down” the buildup of calcium along the artery walls. The orbital motion causes calcium to be released into tiny particles small enough to flow safely into the bloodstream.  A balloon and stent are then deployed to increase blood flow.Orlando Orthopaedic Center Adds Nationally Recognized Sports Medicine Management ProfessionalOrlando Orthopaedic Center announced that Marisa Brunett, MS, ATC, LAT, has joined their team as the Director of Marketing and Professional Services Development.Ms. Brunett brings 26 years of professional experience developing, implementing, managing and marketing sports medicine program operations. She joins Orlando Orthopaedic Center after previous positions as the Florida Regional Vice President – Sports Medicine for CORA Rehabilitation & Sports Medicine Clinics and a Sports Medicine Coordinator for Osceola Regional Medical Center. She also worked with Orange Physical Therapy and Sports Rehabilitation and Walt Disney World Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation.Ms.Brunett has been selected by her peers to numerous leadership and board positions, and has been recognized repeatedly as a Hall of Fame Inductee for several regional athletic trainers’ associations. Select appointments include: current Public Relations Chair of the National Athletic Trainers’ Association; former President of The Athletic Trainers’ Association of Florida and current member of its Florida Workers’ Compensation Reimbursement Project Team; and Vice President of the Southeast Athletic Trainers’ Association. She has also been chosen multiple times by the Governor to serve on the Department of Health Board of Athletic Training.Ms.Brunett graduated from West Virginia University, with a B.S. in Physical Education/Athletic Training. She continued her training and education at Florida State University (FSU) where she earned her M.S. degree in Administration/Program Development.Physician Associates Receives National Recognition for Quality CarePhysician Associates, a part of Orlando Health, has been awarded recognition by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Level-3 Patient Centered Medical Home. This recognition is given to primary care groups that have successfully transformed their practice(s) into medical homes for patients emphasizing care coordination and communication. As a Level-3 Medical Home, Physician Associates has demonstrated the highest quality of care, empowering patients to actively participate in their healthcare and facilitating partnerships between patients, their personal physicians and, when appropriate, the patient’s family.During the survey process, Physician Associates demonstrated their ability to successfully transform into a patient-centered care model by providing the following:

enhanced access - patients can reach healthcare professionals both during and outside of regular business hours;

proactive planning and management for the patient’s needs prior to the appointment – enabling the care team to provide complete and total care for the patient;

increased education, training and support for our patients – empowering patients to be knowledgeable about their condition(s) and encourage them to be actively involved in the care process.

The NCQA Level-3 Medical Home recognition is valid until 2016. The Patient Centered Medical Home model has been proven to improve the quality of care that patients receive, save lives and help patients stay healthy while simultaneously reducing costs and providing a better overall patient experience.St. Cloud Regional Medical Center Opens Heart Catheterization LabSt. Cloud Regional Medical Center is proud to announce the opening of its new multipurpose cardiac catheterization lab.  Now patients have access to the latest cardiovascular services they need without having to travel far from home.  The new lab, an investment of $1.5 million, will allow physicians to perform cardiac catheterizations, as well as peripheral vascular cases and interventional radiology procedures. By early next year, the lab is slated to have an additional certification for even more advanced cardiac interventions. Dr. Atul Madan, Cardiologist and a Medical Director for St. Cloud Regional’s cath lab, performed the first diagnostic catheterization on Tuesday, January 7, 2014. The lab is equipped with high-tech imaging and hemodynamic monitoring equipment, allowing physicians to observe blood flow and pressure to better diagnose and treat cardiovascular events.  “The opening of the multipurpose cath lab is one more way we are demonstrating our firm commitment to providing the very best healthcare close to home,” said Mari Jones, Interim CEO at St. Cloud Regional Medical Center.MedMal Direct Announces New Reinsurance TreatyJacksonville-based MedMal Direct Insurance Company (MedMal Direct) announces its new reinsurance treaty with a panel of international reinsurance companies. With combined assets of $125 Billion, MedMal Direct's reinsurance partners include Lloyd's of London, Bermuda, Germany, Switzerland and U.S. based reinsurers, all of which have a financial stability rating of A+ (Superior) or A (Excellent) from A.M. Best.MedMal Direct's reinsurance program augments the company's financial stability by providing multiple layers of protection for the company and its policyholders. This integral relationship allows MedMal Direct to continue providing the most competitive medical malpractice insurance premiums, superior customer service and aggressive litigation management with exceptional financial stability.MedMal Direct is the only medical malpractice insurance carrier to exclusively offer its policies direct tophysicians.