Comprehensive Pain Management Clinics in Provo and Layton, Utah expand to improve access to vital care, provide beacon of hope for growing communities.

(PRUnderground) November 12th, 2024

Two comprehensive pain management clinics are being expanded by Intermountain Health to enhance access to care for patients in the growing communities of Utah and Davis counties.

Now, more Utah patients in those communities will have improved access to specialized physical medicine rehab, neurologists, physical therapists, and behavioral health therapists on the campus of Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital in Provo and near Intermountain Layton Hospital.

Located in the Sorenson Legacy Tower on the campus of Intermountain Utah Valley Hospital, the Utah County pain management clinic is designed with the patient in mind, with all services located on one floor so providers can better communicate and coordinate care close to home for patients.

The Chronic Pain Medicine – Layton Clinic in Davis County is in a stand-alone clinic located at 2075 University Park Blvd in Layton. It is also tailored to address the root causes of pain, optimizing treatment to enhance the overall well-being of patients for lasting relief, improved quality of life, and increased function.

“Our goal is to work as a team with the patient at our center of attention, so patients leave our clinics looking forward to life and not another appointment,” said Chris Gappmayer, executive 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.”

These new clinics are 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.

Both clinics are designed with patient ease in mind. When patients get off the elevator, or open the front door, they will be immediately greeted by someone 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 our pain clinics 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 clinics have added more 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 (Utah Valley): This new space will help with patient access, allowing Intermountain 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 (Utah Valley): The new clinic also has space for the Utah Valley team to provide treatment for 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 these clinics give us enough space to continue to grow these service lines in a way we can continue to better serve the Utah and Davis County communities,” said Harward.

For more information on Intermountain Utah Valley’s Pain Clinic, the Chronic Pain Medicine – Layton Clinic, or other pain management services in the Intermountain Health system, go here.

And for more information on understanding the difference between chronic pain and acute pain, 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 nonprofit system of 33 hospitals, 385 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 more information or updates, see https://intermountainhealthcare.org/news.

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Original Press Release.