This month we are providing your organization with a pain policy, a pain tracer and a pain management competency tool. Pain management has been and remains a focal point for surveyors. More importantly, as healthcare providers, we want to assure that we effectively manage the patient’s pain. It is important that pain be addressed with an interdisciplinary approach, including physician, pharmacist, nursing and the patient.
We encourage you to use the tracer to evaluate how pain management is assessed, managed and educated. Partner with patients to educate them, as appropriate, about non-pharmacological modalities. Also, help patients understand that the goal is pain management. In many circumstances, it is not appropriate to have a pain goal of “0”; the patient and healthcare professionals need to recognize and discuss a reasonable pain goal with the patient. Make sure there is a documented assessment and reassessment that follows what the physician has ordered. It is also important to assure that opioid education is provided, and that the education is documented.