Frequently Asked Questions

IONM stands for IntraOperative Neurophysiological Monitoring, which is also known as intraoperative neuromonitoring, IOM, or simply “monitoring.” This technique has been clinically shown to lower the risk of iatrogenic damage to the nervous system and offers functional guidance to the surgeon and surgical team. IONM is useful for localizing and assessing the function of neural structures.

The process of IONM includes both a technical and a professional aspect. The monitoring is carried out by a certified or board-eligible Surgical Neurophysiologist in the operating room (technical aspect) and is supervised remotely in real-time by a fellowship-trained physician or a doctor of audiology (professional aspect). This collaboration between a skilled Surgical Neurophysiologist and certified professionals ensures the integration of advanced technology with specialized neurological expertise, ultimately enhancing patient safety and improving outcomes.

Spine and Brain Monitoring is committed to delivering comprehensive IONM services to hospitals, surgical centers and healthcare facilities thruout the State of New Jersey for both scheduled and emergency surgeries. Collaborating closely with top surgeons, our neurophysiologists monitor nervous system activity to identify and respond to any early signs of potential neural injury.

Here at Spine and Brain Monitoring, our certified clinicians are leaders in IONM service excellence, having completed extensive training and gained valuable experience in the operating room. For surgeons in need of an experienced IONM clinician, Spine & Brain Monitoring’s neurophysiologists contribute advanced clinical expertise to any surgical team.

Our companies dedication to medical education and clinical excellence is evident in every aspect of our service to medical centers, with patient health being our utmost priority.

Before assigning our surgical neurophysiologist to monitor your case, we make sure that they are properly credentialed in the facility that they will be providing our IONM services at.

 Vendor credentialing has emerged as a critical component of healthcare operations, ensuring that third-party suppliers and vendor sales representatives are thoroughly vetted before engaging with hospitals. This process is a fundamental responsibility of hospital administrators, aimed at maintaining stringent regulations for the safety of patients and preservation of hospital resources.   

This credentialing  process confirms that our surgical neurophysiologists adhere to strict requirements for on-site work or virtual access and verifies the identity of our technologist.

While specific requirements vary between organizations, standard criteria include: 

• Verification of employment and required training 
• Vaccines (MMR, Hepatitis B, Tetanus, Tdap, Infuenza, COVID-19) 
• Drug screening 
• PPD (tuberculosis) test 
• Background check (Federal/state/local criminal records check) 
• Insurance coverage 
• HIPAA Compliance Training 
• Safety training 

We've partnered with leading credentialing platform providers such as Symplr, Green Security, etc... to make sure our Surgical Neurophysiolgists meet all expected hospital criteria prior to entering the facility to provide neuromonitoring for your case.

At Spine & Brain Monitoring we provide neuromonitoring services for all types of orthopedic, neurosurgery and vascular surgical procedures, including but not limited to: 

All types of Lateral Interbody Fusions, Scoliosis  Corrective Surgery, Herniated Discectomies, minimally invasive pain management procedures, Disc Replacements, Acetabulum and Hip Revisions , Sciatic Nerve Exploration, Nerve Impingement  release, Brain and Spinal Cord Tumors, Peripheral Neurosurgery , Tethered Cord  Release, Cauda Equina Surgery , Chiari Malformation, etc….

Our team of highly skilled and trained surgical neurophysiologists are well versed in monitoring multiple complex modalities for all types of procedures pertaining to the spine and Brain where neurological structures or pathways may be compromised.

 · Somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEP)

· Transcranial electric motor evoked potentials (TCEMEP)

· Electromyography and pedicle screw testing

· Brainstem auditory evoked potentials (BAEP)

· Motor cranial nerve monitoring inc. facial and recurrent laryngeal nerve monitoring

· Motor cortical mapping / Sensory cortical mapping / Language mapping

· Intraoperative EEG

· Peripheral nerve mapping

and more….

We can provide you with a professional IONM interpretation report if requested. Our cases are monitored in real-time and a report can be expedited and provided same day if necessary.

Our remote monitoring physicians maintain constant communication with our neurophysiologists during the surgery by maintaining continuous real-time communication and interpreting IONM data as it occurs. Our team of remote physicians are committed to safeguarding your patients by adhering to the highest standards of remote interpretation, backed by decades of specialized training in IONM. Qualified physician interpretation is the Gold Standard of care in delivering high quality, expert IONM services.

Before your surgery, hospital personnel will prepare you in the pre-operative holding area. During this period, you will meet your Spine and Brain Surgical Neurophysiologist, also referred to as your IONM Technologist, who will address any inquiries regarding intraoperative neuromonitoring (IONM) and will request your signature on the consent form.

In the operating room, the technologist will apply small, non-invasive adhesive pads and/or acupuncture-style needle electrodes to your skin over the nerves and muscles that will be monitored. Typically, neuromonitoring of the designated nerves and muscle regions commences shortly after anesthesia is administered, with data being gathered throughout the procedure. The surgeon will utilize the information collected to inform their decision-making during the surgery.

There are minimal risks or contraindications associated with intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM). Utilizing IONM allows surgeries to continue smoothly, thereby improving patient safety. While needle electrodes do penetrate the skin, the likelihood of infection remains low due to prior disinfection, and the needles are sterile and single-use. Mild soreness at the insertion points may be experienced. Overall, intraoperative monitoring is typically cost-effective and represents a valuable investment in preventing neurological complications during spinal surgeries whenever possible.