CONTRIBUTED CONTENT — Desert Pain Specialists stands at the forefront of treating chronic pain in Southern Utah by offering cutting-edge therapies and more one-on-one attention from compassionate, highly skilled physicians and advanced practice providers. 

As the area’s premier interventional pain management team, Desert Pain practices evidence-based, forward-thinking medicine that integrates the newest available treatments. They address all types of pain conditions including back pain, neck pain, sciatica, neuropathy, migraines and sports injuries. 

Melissa Hinton, a doctorate nurse practitioner with over 20 years of medical expertise, has been serving chronic pain patients at Desert Pain’s St. George and Hurricane clinics since 2013. 

“Our mission is to provide the best care for and improve the function of our patients,” she said. “What sets us apart is that we have clinicians that are on the forefront and trying to find new interventional therapies to help our patients on a higher level.” 

Hinton said that patients starting a new chapter in their pain management journey often have many questions. As such, she strives to answer some of the most common.

Who are your doctors?

Desert Pain was founded in 2007 by Dr. Court Empey, with Dr. Spencer Wells joining in 2011. Both physicians are St. George natives who recognized an unfulfilled need in the area for the treatment of chronic pain and shared a desire to give back to the community that raised them. Dr. Ryan Workman came onboard in 2017 with the opening of the Cedar City clinic, and Dr. Steven Larsen joined the team last year. 

With a diversity of backgrounds and interests, the physicians at Desert Pain draw upon each other’s expertise to improve patient outcomes. As their patient base grows along with Southern Utah’s population, the clinic will welcome another interventional pain management specialist, Dr. Nate Clements, in July. 

Who are your advanced practice providers?

Desert Pain employs nine advanced practice providers to serve patients throughout Southern Utah and Nevada: Cortney Bernardo, Mark Udy, Melissa Hinton, Brian Jorgensen, Nicholas Stucki, Kylie Fackrell, Katrina Poulsen, Dan Corry and Hayden Worwood. All providers undergo continuing medical education to keep their licenses active and stay up-to-date with new developments in pain management. 

“The nurse practitioners and physician assistants all have significant experience in different areas, so we all have our own little niche,” Hinton said. “But identifying the cause of pain and helping patients get through their daily schedule with greater function is our primary concern.” 

The providers work diligently to put patients at ease by helping them navigate the consultation, diagnosis and treatment process. They’re willing to spend as much time with each patient as necessary in order for them to feel comfortable. 

How do I become a Desert Pain patient?

Simply call 435-216-7000 and schedule an appointment with one of the providers. Desert Pain is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and can usually book patients for same-day or next-day consultations. A referral will be necessary for some patients based on insurance requirements.   

Desert Pain’s state-of-the-art facility in St. George allows them to offer unmatched quality of care to patients. And with nine additional locations in Hurricane, Cedar City, Beaver, Panguitch, Kanab, Delta and Fillmore as well as Mesquite and Overton, Nevada, they’re prepared to serve the needs of the growing region. 

What should I bring to my initial consultation?

Patients are asked to bring their driver’s license, medication list and insurance cards to their first appointment. Consider downloading, printing and filling out the new patient form ahead of your initial visit to expedite the check-in process. 

Desert Pain is committed to providing a comprehensive and multidisciplinary approach to treating chronic pain conditions that includes analysis of biomechanics, joint motion and skeletal, nerve and muscle tissues. Every patient is evaluated for the root cause of their pain, rather than a “quick fix” approach that only provides symptomatic relief.

Living with a pain condition is a daily battle against an invisible enemy. At Desert Pain, patients are seen, heard, understood and supported throughout their pain management journey. Each person who passes through their doors is much more than just a name on a chart.

Call 435-216-7000 or visit the Desert Pain website to schedule an appointment today.

Written by ALEXA MORGAN for St. George News.

• S P O N S O R E D   C O N T E N T • 

Resources

• Desert Pain Specialists | Telephone: 435-216-7000 | Email: [email protected] | Website.
• Locations:
  • St. George: 617 E. Riverside Drive, Suite 301.
  • Hurricane: 48 S. 2500 West, Suite 110.
  • Cedar City: 1760 N. Main St.
  • Beaver: 68 N. Main St.
  • Panguitch: 200 N. 400 East.
  • Kanab: 348 N. 300 West.
  • Delta: 126 White Sage Ave.
  • Fillmore: 65 N. Main St.
  • Mesquite, Nevada: 340 Falcon Ridge Parkway, Suite 600.
  • Overton, Nevada: 475 N. Moapa Valley Blvd.

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