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Patient safety and positive surgical outcomes are SMA's primary concern. SMA's fellowship-trained surgical neurophysiologists are highly-educated and skilled professionals who stand out in the field of intraoperative neuromonitoring. Importantly, they are proficient both in the technical aspects of neuromonitoring as well as the clinical interpretation of neuromonitoring data. This allows you the freedom to focus your attention on surgery, knowing that alterations in neural status will be recognized in real time and communicated to you directly by the neurophysiologist in the operating room. Because SMA clinicians are all fellowship-trained, they understand the myriad physiological manifestations of neurologic injury and the presumptive underlying causes. Consequently, they are equipped to confer both with you and the anesthesiologist to develop a plan for timely intervention and patient management should there be signs of emerging injury.

SMA insists on the highest standards of professional competency in the specialty field of intraoperative neuromonitoring. There is mounting evidence to suggest that IONM is most effective when performed by professional surgical neurophysiologists with advanced board-certification. Recent surveys have shown a high correlation between neuromonitoring accuracy and both level of education and years of experience.¹ No other IONM group can match the quality and experience of SMA's clinical staff. 95% of SMA's clinicians hold an advanced graduate degree in the allied health or biological sciences, and are either Diplomates of the American Board of Neurophysiologic Monitoring (ABNM) or in the process of becoming board-certified. While other groups look to technical certification (Certificate of Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring, CNIM) as an end goal, SMA considers it only a point of entry to the specialty upon completion of our structured clinical fellowship training program. We set the standard for professional training and excellence in neuromonitoring care, and we continue to raise that bar.

SMA's founder, Dr. Daniel M. Schwartz is one of the earliest pioneers in intraoperative neurophysiology, beginning almost three decades ago. This places him in the company of an elite group of professionals who helped develop the field and continue active clinical practice. Dr. Schwartz is arguably among the most highly published experts in the IONM specialty, with articles appearing in leading contemporary orthopedic, neurosurgical, and anesthesia journals and textbooks. Moreover, he and Dr. Anthony K. Sestokas, SMA's Chief Clinical Officer, continue to advance the field through numerous scientific publications and development of innovative neuromonitoring methods.

When remote physician support is required by the patient's insurance carrier, SMA's partner, Remote Neuromonitoring Physicians (RNP), is available for on-line consulting support.

When it comes to the safety of your patients, it makes sense to rely on the leaders in the field of intraoperative neuromonitoring. Your patients will benefit from the hands-on care of experienced professionals dedicated to “guarding the nervous system” during surgery. Both you and your patients will take comfort in knowing that you are doing everything possible to minimize the likelihood of post-operative neurologic sequelae.

¹Stecker MM,, Robertshaw J. Factors affecting reliability of interpretations of intraoperative evoked potentials. J Clin Monit Comp. 2006; 20: 47-55.