Articles: pain-clinics.
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The implementation of a pain management pharmacy service in a community hospital is described. ⋯ The pharmacy department at a community hospital successfully implemented a pain management program. The PMP provided pain management services to patients and a valuable resource to other health care staff.
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Every physician should be able to treat pain regardless of the specialty, but patients with a risk of chronification or chronic pain should receive care from specialized physicians and non-medical professionals. Specialized pain treatment is an additional qualification in Germany, which may be achieved in different specialties by defined structure criteria and experience. ⋯ However, the quality criteria suggested by the pain treatment societies were not always met. Treatment options for patients with a risk of chronification and chronic pain show regional variations and are insufficiently developed.
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Multidisciplinary pain management clinics provide the standard of care for the diagnosis, evaluation, and treatment of patients who have chronic pain. Primary care physicians are encouraged to maintain an active role in the care of patients after referral to these pain centers, often for long-term opiate therapy or complex regional pain syndrome. Insights into the role of pain management clinics after referral are discussed in this article.
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The authors hypothesized that Internal Medicine (IM) residents experience a lack of preparation, confidence, and reward when managing patients with chronic nonmalignant pain (CNMP) in their continuity clinic and that they exhibit deficiencies in CNMP management practices, particularly when opioids are prescribed. ⋯ The questionnaire indicated that IM residents lack preparation in managing CNMP, which results in lack of confidence and reward. The chart review revealed management practice deficiencies in risk assessment and prescription drug misuse monitoring. As a result, the authors have implemented curricular interventions, integrated a pain clinic within the continuity clinic, optimized residency program clinic scheduling, and developed tools for consistency in management practices.