Anesthesiology

The Pain Center, a division of Greater Baltimore's Medical Center's Department of Anesthesiology was founded in 1987 by the previous Chairman Pedro Garcia M.D., with a mission to provide caring and compassionate treatment of chronic pain patients. The Center's Director and current Chairman, Harold Goll M.D., and associates Paul Gilmore, M.D., Steven Jacob, M.D., and Stanislov Malov, M.D., are all board certified anesthesiologists who are also certified in pain management.

Areas of expertise include:

• Identifying the source of pain
• Reducing, controlling or eliminating pain
• Improving activity level
• Enhancing quality of life

Defining Pain

Pain is the feeling of distress, suffering, or agony caused by stimulation of the nerve endings and is the most frequent reason people seek health care today. The pain that accompanies surgery, injury or disease is called acute pain. The pain that persists beyond the expected recovery time or for more than three months is termed chronic pain. Traditional medical interventions have failed to alleviate chronic pain. With chronic pain, patients experience feeling of hopelessness, helplessness, and despair. They may also have difficulty with sleep, loss of appetite, irritability, and decreased activity level.

Diagnosing and Treating Pain

The Pain Center's board certified and specially trained physicians use procedures called nerve blocks to both diagnose and treat pain. A Nerve Block is an injection of local anesthetic with or without steroids under the skin, in muscles, joints, or around nerve fibers. The pain sensation is carried to the brain by nerve fibers running through the body. By injecting nerves one at a time the exact nerve carrying the pain signal can be identified. This often undiagnosable origin of pain is the reason so many patients remain untreated. Once the source is located, treatment to reduce or eliminate the pain can be directed at the source. This may involve interrupting the transmission of the pain signal using one or a series of nerve blocks.

Patient Referrals

Patients must be referred to The Pain Center by their individual physician. Patients may contact The Pain Center for more information, however, as with all specialty facilities, referrals are necessary before an appointment is scheduled.

Prior to the initial appointment, the primary physician needs to forward copies of your medical records and diagnostic tests ( x-rays, CT scans, MRI scans and nerve conduction studies results ) for The Pain Center's physicians to review.

The Pain Center's physicians will work closely with your primary physician keeping him informed of your treatments and progress. While at The Pain Center, you will remain under the care of your primary physician who continues to serve as your principal care giver, providing emergency treatments and dispensing prescriptions.

Consultation and Appointments

Patients are actively involved in their own care at The Pain Center. At the initial consultation, you will work with our staff to:

• Complete a medical and pain history
• Discuss the characteristics and emotional and physical impact of pain
• Receive a problem focused physical examination
• Outline your individual treatment plan and goals

Questions addressed at the first appointment include:

• When did your pain begin?
• How did it occur? Accident or Work Injury?
• Are there activities that aggravate the pain?
• What makes the pain feel better?
• Do you take over-the-counter or prescription medications?

Patients may want to bring a family member to the first appointment as well as a list of current medications and previous treatments. Upon completion of the interview and physical examination, a treatment plan will be formulated then implemented after patient agreement.

To schedule a consultation or appointment, call The Pain Center at 410-321-4454.

Insurance and Billing

Most health care insurance plans, including Medicare provide reimbursement for The Pain Center's services. Pre-authorization of services will be completed prior to the initial consultation. The patient will be responsible for any co-payment or deductible . The Pain Center's services are billed under the name Physicians Anesthesia Associates. Direct any questions regarding billing to 410-321-4553.

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