By Crystal Bozek
cbozek@eagletribune.com
November 20, 2008 12:09 am LAWRENCE — A shake-up at Lawrence General Hospital's pain management center means patients will have access to the department only two days a week for the next few months. The chief of anesthesia and pain management has stepped down and the hospital is negotiating with another group to run the center, because a contract with Anesthetics of Lawrence is up in February. The center, which services more than 200 people with back pain, illnesses and post-operative pain, was open four days a week. Hospital spokesman Barbara Keller said the move from four to two days may leave new patients in the lurch. "It will probably affect new patients. Our highest priority will be our existing patients to continue to receive care," Keller said. "It's a transition. ... It will be approximately three months." Keller said the center will go back to a four-day-a-week schedule once the transition is over. Dr. Rami Rustum, chief of anesthesia and pain management, said he stepped down from his position at Anesthetics of Lawrence, the group the hospital is using to run their pain center, because of differences he had with his employer. Rustum said he plans to open his own pain management practice locally early next year. "There were some problems, paychecks delayed," Rustum said. About five doctors and nurses in the department twice received their paychecks late back in August 2007. "We've been having issues, things were not working out," Rustum said. "I couldn't achieve what I wanted to achieve. ... I elected to leave. Now I can focus on my patients and pain management." Keller said the hospital is notifying patients of the change. She did not say which firms the hospital is negotiating with, only saying, "We're looking at other contractors." Dr. Christopher Hummel, who is also with Anesthetics of Lawrence, will see patients in the interim.
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