EMG Fellowships

[absolutetp]

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Does anyone have good information about doing an EMG fellowship? The AAPMR website only shows about 8 programs. Does anyone know if there any more than that? How about neurology EMG programs; do they take PMR residents?

Also, does anyone have any idea about how much EMGs get reimbursed?

Just trying to get some information about pursuing this as a career choice.

thanks.

 

[dc2md]

you've been a member of SDN since Jul 2004 but this is only your 3rd post?? wow...long time lurker i guess. i saw in your old posts that you were going for the match in 2005...where did u end up going??
sorry, i don't have any information about EMG fellowships or reimbursements, just noisey about the questions above. try the AAP website too. http://www.physiatry.org/Education_Fellowship_Programs.cfm

good luck.

chris

 

[axm397]

Does anyone have good information about doing an EMG fellowship? The AAPMR website only shows about 8 programs. Does anyone know if there any more than that? How about neurology EMG programs; do they take PMR residents?

Also, does anyone have any idea about how much EMGs get reimbursed?

Just trying to get some information about pursuing this as a career choice.

thanks.

Most PM&R residents don't pursue EMG fellowships because most of us get enough EMG training during residency to feel comfortable performing bread and butter EMGs after graduation. Neurology residents usually (there are some exceptions) do not get enough training during residency so most do fellowships in EEGs and EMGs to get extra training. We can sit for the AANEM boards without doing fellowships. That being said, we can choose to do a neuromuscular fellowship should we wish to get more training in neuromuscular pathologies.

EMG reimbursement depends on the number of nerves/limbs tested and type of study.

 

[topwise]

Can you get a job doing EMGs (the bread and butter ones) without doing a fellowship or being AANEM certified?

 

[axm397]

Can you get a job doing EMGs (the bread and butter ones) without doing a fellowship or being AANEM certified?

yes

 

[drvlad2004]

In practical use, it is not beneficial to do an EMG fellowship as a physiatrist. You should be well trained in EMGs from your residency training alone. If not, it obviously means that your residency trainig is weak in it, which should never be the case. The exception would be neuromuscular rehab, which has more complicated types of EMG/NCV. I think that getting AANEM certified is more for your own education purposes. I really enjoy doing EMGs and I have had great case studies from it during residency. I plan on getting AANEM certified in the near future. However, in no way it means that reimbursements will be higher with certification.

 

[Myofascist]

Also, does anyone have any idea about how much EMGs get reimbursed?

I calculated medicare reimbursement for a simple CTS study (unilateral) to be about $160 w/o needle exam and a unilateral radiculopathy to be about $240. Thats w/ a level one office visit for new patient included. You can do that as long as you document a quick history and exam findings, correct? Multi-limb studies would be more obviously. Does this sound about right?

 

[MN1]

Also, does anyone have any idea about how much EMGs get reimbursed?

I calculated medicare reimbursement for a simple CTS study (unilateral) to be about $160 w/o needle exam and a unilateral radiculopathy to be about $240. Thats w/ a level one office visit for new patient included. You can do that as long as you document a quick history and exam findings, correct? Multi-limb studies would be more obviously. Does this sound about right?

Depends on what you consider a "simple CTS study". How many NCS? F waves included? If you did median and ulnar motor/sensory/F waves and a needle exam, it would be more than $160.

 

[PMR 4 MSK]

I would only do a fellowship if you come from a program with "weak" EMG training (there are some).

As above, reimbursement is highly variable. Medicaid right now only pays me for the needle exam, won't pay for NCV's, so I get an average of $25 each - luckily they are few and far b/w. Again, it depends on # nerves tested and your payor. Medicare does fair, private payors better. In my state, WC pays very well.