The International Pain and Spine Intervention Society courses have been developed using a systematic evidence-based approach; in addition, they are highly structured and utilize experienced instructors from multiple disciplines. The Education Division has revamped our course offerings to ensure instruction is consistent with the 2nd Edition of the Practice Guidelines, and to meet the recommendations and educational needs of our members.

Membership is required for all hands-on bio-skills labs and accreditation courses; you do not need to be a member to attend a lecture only course. All physician members are encouraged to begin their training at the lumbar level. It is a requirement for Fellow and Resident members to start at the lumbar level.

Our courses vary in difficulty; the foundations for fluoroscopically-guided interventions are established in the lumbar course, and further developed in the cervical course. It is imperative that each attendee has mastered basic interventional techniques and understands core principles of image-guidance, needle manipulation, and complication management prior to taking advanced courses. Please register for courses for which you have the skill set to successfully participate. If an instructor determines an attendee incapable of learning a procedure, they may devote time to more fundamental needle skills.

Our educational activities offer an unsurpassed opportunity to network with peers. During most courses, we host a reception, which allows attendees to converse in a casual environment with fellow attendees and instructors. Many find this a valuable part of the course.

The International Pain and Spine Intervention Society is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians and takes responsibility for the content, quality and scientific integrity for those CME activities.

Space is limited and accepted on a first come, first served basis. The Society's courses consistently fill; so be sure to register early.

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Bio-Skills Lab Attendee Protocol

Membership is a requirement to attend all our hands-on bio-skills labs. The following physician members qualify to attend hands-on bio-sills labs:

Physicians residing in the United States and Canada who:

• are currently certified in Anesthesiology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, or Radiology by a board that is a member of the American Boards of Medical Specialties (ABMS); the American Osteopathic Association (AOA); or the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
• Current certification in Pain Medicine by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
• Completion of an ACGME or NASS-recognized Pain, Spine, or Spine/MSK Fellowship Program.

Physicians trained and residing outside of the United States and Canada who are, Board-Certified Anesthesiologists, Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, Orthopedic Surgeons, Physiatrists, or Radiologists; or who hold demonstrably similar status in their country of residence.

Qualified members can begin instruction at any of our hands-on bio-skills labs but are encouraged to begin with the Lumbar Bio-Skills Lab.

If a prospective attendee does not qualify to attend bio-skills labs, they may apply for membership, but membership alone will not allow members who do not meet the above criteria to attend bio-skills labs. To request a waiver to attend a bio-skills lab please contact membership@ipsismed.org. Documentation of the below requirements will need to be submitted for a waiver request.

1. Formal documentation of fellowship program.
   
2. A log of the types and numbers of procedures performed.

The IPSIS Membership Exemption Review Committee (MERC) will review each waiver on a case-by-case basis and will respond within two weeks of the request.

Fellow and Resident members are REQUIRED to attend a Lumbar Bio-Skills Lab prior to taking any other courses.

Fellows who are board eligible or certified in Anesthesiology, Neurology, Neurosurgery, Orthopedic Surgery, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, or Radiology by a board that is a member of the American Boards of Medical Specialties (ABMS) or the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) or are currently in an ACGME Pain or NASS-recognized Pain, Spine, or Spine/MSK Fellowship Program may submit a lumbar bio-skills waiver request to start instruction at the Advanced Lumbar Bio-Skills Lab or Cervical Bio-Skills Lab. To request a Lumbar Bio-Skills Lab waiver, submit the following documentation to the IPSIS Education Division via email to registration@IPSISmed.org.

1. Current curriculum vitae
2. Formal letter from the applicant’s Fellowship Program Director including:
   • That the applicant is currently in a pain or spine fellowship
   • Description of the program
   • A log of the types and numbers of procedures the applicants has performed in fellowship training (if a detailed log is not available, a list of estimated figures)
     

Additional documentation may be requested after initial review.

1. Imaging and correlating Procedure Report from a lumbar transforaminal injection and lumbar medial branch block
   

The IPSIS Education Division will review each bio-skills lab protocol waiver on a case-by-case basis and will respond within two weeks of the request.

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CME Mission Statement

The International Pain and Spine Intervention Society CME program challenges itself to be the educational leader on spine intervention procedures. Our program is ethically motivated, scientifically and evidence-based, and commercially unbiased.

Purpose: The purpose of the CME program is to provide high-quality, evidence-based educational activities that are designed to increase the competence of physicians who perform pain intervention procedures to positively affect patient outcomes. This goal is accomplished by utilizing the IPSIS Guidelines to teach precision diagnostic and therapeutic interventional techniques to treat pain.

Expected Results: Physicians will increase their competence and procedure techniques in the subject areas offered and apply the knowledge and skills to enhance patient outcomes in their practice settings.

IPSIS will measure changes in learner competence in the following ways: The standard evaluation form asks learners if they intend to make any changes in practice as a result of their participation in the course. If they answer yes, they are asked to report any intended changes they plan to apply in practice. As part of the skills training courses, learners are provided feedback from the faculty regarding their ability to apply new strategies in practice.

Change data will be analyzed and used to determine if any improvements are necessary and to help IPSIS determine if the Expected Results section of the Mission statement have been met.

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Fellow and Resident Course Bundle

Fellow and Resident members must take 3 courses in a 12-month period to qualify for the discount. Courses must be taken in this order:

1. Lumbar
2. Advanced Lumbar or Cervical
3. Your choice - $500 off