When it comes to conditions of the lower urinary tract, there are key differences to consider in order to determine which form of testing is the most appropriate. While there are striking similarities between methods that can potentially create confusion upon first glance, a practitioner knows which test is most appropriate for the corresponding symptoms.

One area that has the potential to create this confusion is determining the difference between the need for the broader Urodynamics testing panel or the Cystometrogram. While these two procedures involve many of the same elements, they are in fact different.

This post will provide a detailed comparison of the two methods and describe how they are similar, but also different. First, a brief explanation of the two methods before we compare:

Topics: Urodynamics Testing, BHN, outsourcing diagnostics, urodynamics, incontinence, urodynamics service provider, male urodynamics, stress incontinence, Uroflow, Uroflowmetry, UroGynecology, Cystometrogram

An aging US population brings unique challenges to urologists and the urology workforce in general. As the average age of the population increases, this means that the frequency of urologic diseases and need for urology-related treatments also increases, and it is having an effect on the industry in general as demand increases. These demographic changes in the United States are in turn changing the demands on the urology workforce, creating a need by professionals to have the latest data, research, education, and advocacy for a changing industry.

With the findings published in the American Urology Association’s 2020 census, along with comparisons with their previous publications, we can form a clear picture of what the urology workforce and industry has been through in the past, what it is currently dealing with as of the 2020 publication, and we can also infer educated predictions about the future to anticipate what urologists and urology professionals will need to prepare for in order to meet the growing demand for urology care.

Here is a summary of some of the key findings of the AUA’s 2020 census:

Topics: Urodynamics Testing, urodynamics, urodynamics staffing, incontinence, clinical operations, urology, urodynamics service provider, Medical Practice Operations, Uroflowmetry, UroGynecology

Urinary incontinence can provide health care professionals with a challenge that may seem like it requires surgery when there are in fact a range of nonsurgical and even non-pharmacological options that can be employed first. To experienced urologists, this will be apparent, however other healthcare professionals who do not have a full working knowledge of urodynamic testing along with urinary incontinence treatment options may choose surgery or medication when there are many steps that can be taken and explored before resorting to more invasive options.

An Overview of Urinary Incontinence

Topics: Urodynamics Testing, urodynamics, urinariy incontinence, incontinence, clinical operations, urology, urodynamics service provider, male urodynamics, UroGynecology

Whether you are an administrator, owner, or someone who is involved in some way with the running of a medical practice, you are likely going to already know about both asset-light and asset-heavy medical practice designs.

If you are, however, unfamiliar with these terms, then knowing the difference between them can be extremely helpful in weighing up how to design a medical practice and where capital should be allocated.

An asset-heavy medical practice is one with a large amount of capital invested in equipment, the property and building where the practice is located, employees (with a large number of full-time employees), and essentially owns a wide range of assets that allow it to perform as many functions as possible.

An asset-light medical practice on the other hand is one that owns fewer fixed assets, with a minimized quantity of full-time employees that focuses more on using outsourcing vendors to provide patients with a full range of medical and diagnostic treatments.

Topics: Urodynamics Testing, General Urology Information, Reimbursments, Reimbursment Trends, urodynamics staffing, hospital operations, clinical operations, urodynamics service provider, ObGyn Practices, urodynamics profitability, Medical Practice Operations, Urology Practice Trends

For any USA-based medical practice, there is a wide range of benefits that comes with outsourcing. As the healthcare industry becomes more competitive, outsourcing non-core services can help practices improve patient experiences and outcomes while also helping to create additional revenue without the need for training their own staff or investing in expensive equipment and facilities, all of which is handled by the specialized healthcare professional who is outsourced to.

Topics: Urodynamics Testing, BHN, Reimbursement, outsourcing diagnostics, Reimbursments, urodynamics equipment, urodynamics staffing, clinical operations, urology, urodynamics interpretation, urodynamics service provider, male urodynamics, urodynamics billing, ObGyn Practices, UroGynecology

When it comes to diagnosing patients right the first time, urologists, obstetricians, gynecologists, and healthcare professionals who want to improve the services they offer to patients all need to have access to the right testing options for diagnosing specific issues. The same is true when it comes to monitoring the health of the lower urinary system, with urodynamics being the only testing option specifically designed to monitor patient urinary health.

 

What Is Urodynamics?

Urodynamics refers specifically to the study of how the bladder, urethra, and associated sphincters in the body do their job of storing and releasing urine. Urodynamic testing therefore refers to the set of tests that provide healthcare professionals with valuable information on the health and function of a patient’s urinary system.

Topics: Urodynamics Testing, Reimbursement, outsourcing diagnostics, urodynamics, urodynamics equipment, urodynamics staffing, clinical operations, video urodynamics, urodynamics interpretation, urodynamics service provider, post-void residual, male urodynamics, Pediatric Urodynamics, Uroflowmetry, urodynamics catheters, UroGynecology

Urodynamic testing has the potential to provide health care professionals with much more detailed information on the health of their patient’s bladders, urethras, and their body’s ability to store and flush urine. Urodynamics, especially when used in rural health clinics, allows health care professionals to more accurately diagnose causes of urinary incontinence and other issues relating to the bladder and lower urinary system, making it a key service that needs to be integrated into RHC practices.

 

What Is Urodynamics?

Urodynamics along with urodynamic testing, in its simplest form, is the assessment of how the bladder, urethra, and associated sphincters do their job for storing and releasing urine from the body.

Topics: Urodynamics Testing, BHN, Reimbursement, outsourcing diagnostics, urodynamics, urodynamics equipment, urodynamics training, Reimbursment Trends, urodynamics staffing, clinical operations, urodynamics service provider, urodynamics billing, Medical Practice Operations, Uroflowmetry

2020 and 2021 have shown that urodynamics continues to grow and find unique and novel applications for diagnosing health issues relating to the bladder, urethra, and more. Here we have outlined 4 of the most interesting studies of the past year in the world of urodynamics:

Topics: urodynamics, urodynamics training, urodynamics staffing, incontinence, urodynamics interpretation, urodynamics service provider, Urology Practice Trends, UroGynecology

Disclaimer: I have not used the new system myself and relied upon colleagues who have for reviews. Additional information is from review of Laborie’s marketing materials.

Laborie’s new NXT Pro urodynamics (UDS) system has a variety of features designed to make the user operations simpler and more intuitive. In addition, technological enhancements allow automation of several aspects of the exam and Bluetooth connections to monitoring devices.

Topics: Insider, Urodynamics Testing, urodynamics, urodynamics equipment, urodynamic catheters, urodynamics service provider

Urodynamics (UDS) is a relatively safe office procedure; however, as with any invasive procedure or test, there are risks associated with performing UDS. A few simple steps can help avoid complications in the majority of patients. Most of the complications associated with UDS are related to urinary tract infections (UTI) and the majority of this blog will focus on that. Additional complications include pain, patient anxiety and injury from catheter placement.

 

UTI is the most common serious complication of UDS testing, though the frequency of this is difficult to quantify.¹ There are excellent guidelines on this from the University of Michigan¹ and the American Urologic Association (AUA) also offers guidance for the prevention of UTI’s associated with UDS.²

Topics: Urodynamics Testing, urodynamics service provider, Medical Practice Operations