Accessed through the Hayes Knowledge Center, the Evidence Analysis Solution addresses the following fundamental questions to help our clients determine coverage positions:
Purpose of Technology
Pelvic floor electrical stimulation (PFES) refers to the use of nonimplanted electrodes, usually in the vagina or anus, to deliver variable rates of electrical current to the pelvic floor musculature. The mechanisms of action vary …
Purpose of Technology
Multimodality intraoperative monitoring (MIOM) is increasingly being used during surgical procedures to identify neurological deficits, in “real-time,” in an effort to prevent permanent neurological damage. MIOM involves a variety …
Purpose of Technology
The purpose of bathing hospitalized patients with cloths impregnated with the antiseptic 2% chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG) is, as part of a comprehensive infection control program, to decrease the number of microorganisms on the skin and to reduce the incidence of potentially preventable hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). While protocols vary,…
Purpose of Technology
Magnetic resonance elastography (MRE) involves the 3-dimensional analysis of wave propagation and tissue deformation in patients suspected of or known to have chronic liver disease. MRE is based on the principle that fibrosis changes the elasticity and viscosity of tissue. By assessing the propagation of acoustic waves through liver tissue, the ext…
Purpose of Technology
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) is a noninvasive therapy used to treat a variety of disorders affecting joints and nerves, including carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). LLLT for CTS involves applying a low-intensity infrared or visible red laser to the wrist either over the median nerve or at various acupuncture points. The goal of this therapy is to r…
Purpose of Technology
Percutaneous pulmonary valve implantation (PPVI), also referred to as transcatheter or catheter-based pulmonary valve implantation or replacement, is a minimally invasive heart surgery in patients with right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT) defects. The procedure involves the pe…
Purpose of Technology
The staged approached to sacral nerve stimulation (SNS) is a potential treatment alternative for patients with severe fecal incontinence (FI) who have tried other therapies but failed to find relief. SNS involves the implantation of an electrode among the sacral nerves that is then connected to an external pulse generator to facilitate a tempora…
Purpose of Technology
The purpose of total pancreatectomy is to relieve severe, debilitating symptoms in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP) who have not responded adequately to conservative therapy. However, removal of the entire pancreas stops insulin production, leading to diabetes and lifelong insulin therapy. At the time of pancreatectomy, islet cells can be…
Purpose of Technology
Autologous stem cell therapy for treatment of avascular necrosis (AVN) of the hip involves deriving stem cells from a patient’s own bone marrow or peripheral blood and transplanting them to the necrotic femoral head. Autologous stem cells may be processed and enriched in various ways, and transplantation may occur either surgically, intravenousl…
Purpose of Technology
Full-field digital mammography (FFDM) is gradually replacing conventional screen-film mammography (SFM), which had been the predominant technique for breast cancer screening of asymptomatic women. With digital mammography, images o…