History

The American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring

The American Society of Neurophysiological Monitoring was founded in 1990 to serve the emerging field of neurophysiologic monitoring. As defined by the Society, neurophysiologic monitoring includes any measure employed to assess the ongoing functional integrity of the central or peripheral nervous system in the operating theatre or other acute care setting.

Intraoperative neurophysiological monitoring (IONM) has evolved over the last several decades. Its mission is protection of the patient’s nervous system. Neurophysiologic signals are monitored continuously during surgery for adverse changes, the detection of which enables corrective action. Risk of postoperative neurological deficit, such as weakness, loss of sensation, hearing loss and impairment of other bodily functions is thereby reduced. In addition to detection of change, surgical guidance can be offered in specialized circumstances.

Members of the IONM team include but is not limited to: technologists, surgeons, nurses, anesthesiologists, neurophysiologists, and the supervising person. Team members are those who generate the setting & monitor the patient (technologists), identify the changes (technologists and monitoring personnel), institute management plans that involve surgical maneuvers (surgeons), physiological, pharmacological and anesthetic management (anesthesiologists), moving and repositioning of electrical equipment (nurses), and repositioning of the patient (surgeon, anesthesiologists, nurses).

With almost 1,000 members from around the world, The Society is dedicated to the advancement of quality neurophysiologic monitoring services for neuroprotection.

ASNM Past Presidents