February 2006 E-Newsletter
 Registration for ASPI Annual Meeting Available Soon |
Ohio Survey: Severe Chronic Pain Common |
Washington-Alaska Pain Initiative Implements Power Over Pain |
100 Organizations Endorse The National Pain Care Policy Act |
White House Wants States to Track Rx Drugs |
Carolinas Hold Pain Congress |
REGISTRATION FOR ASPI ANNUAL MEETING AVAILABLE SOON
Brochures and registration information for the American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives’ annual national meeting will soon be mailed and posted on the ASPI’s website www.ASPI.wisc.edu. Don’t miss the chance to attend this unique, interdisciplinary national forum that brings together national and state leaders involved in efforts to address the diverse challenges that impede effective pain control. Participants share resources and expertise, network with one another, and become energized to develop and implement programs to improve the care of persons in pain. The national meeting will be held from June 15-17 at the Hyatt Regency Plaza in Phoenix, AZ, and will focus on the “Politics of Pain” to highlight actions essential to overcoming the organizational, societal, regulatory, educational and clinical barriers that contribute to the undertreatment of pain.
OHIO SURVEY: SEVERE CHRONIC PAIN COMMON
One out of ten households in Ohio have a person with a medically diagnosed chronic pain condition, according to a survey commissioned by the Ohio Pain Initiative (OPI) and Ohio Hospice and Palliative Care Organization. For persons with pain, the survey also shows that the average intensity of their pain is a 6, based on a 10 point scale where 10 is the worst pain imaginable. View the results of the “2005 State of Chronic Pain in Ohio” survey on the OPI website at: http://www.ohiopaininitiative.org
WASHINGTON-ALASKA PAIN INITIATIVE (WAKPI) IMPLEMENTS POWER OVER PAIN
The WAKPI plans to use its recently awarded “Power Over Pain” grant to bring important pain information to communities in both states through its “Regionalization: A Community Outreach Project.” Other outreach activities have included participation at the annual Alaska Pharmacist conference and Alaska state nurses association convention by WAKPI volunteers Donna Lindsay, David Mayschak, Pat Dooley, and Deb O'Loane. In Washington, Anjan Sen, Lynne Allen, and Dionetta Hudzinski, are leading outreach efforts on behalf of WAKPI. WAKPI efforts are bearing fruit as local health care providers work to improve the quality of pain management and provide greater access to services. WAKPI also reports greater participation in patient support groups and educational forums. Two new members to the WAKPI board of directors, Lisa Schwartz of AK and Linda Johnson Trippett of WA, will help contribute even more to the success of WAKPI.
100 ORGANIZATIONS ENDORSE THE NATIONAL PAIN CARE POLICY ACT
One hundred organizations, including fifteen State Pain Initiatives that are part of the ASPI, have endorsed the National Pain Care Policy Act (HR 1020). The legislation was introduced last year by Congressman Mike Rogers (Michigan) and makes pain care research, education, and treatment a national health care priority. For more information on how you and your organization can support the passage of the National Pain Care Policy Act, visit the American Pain Foundation’s website at http://www.painfoundation.org
WHITE HOUSE WANTS STATES TO TRACK RX DRUGS
The White House released the President’s annual National Drug Control Strategy earlier this month. The Administration’s strategy to combat prescription drug abuse focuses on preventing diversion through the establishment of state-level prescription-drug monitoring programs (PMPs). The US Congress authorized federal funding to assist states in establishing PMPs. Many of the ASPI’s State Pain Initiatives are using the ASPI’s position statement on PMPs to work with their state policy makers to make sure that any program which tracks the prescribing and dispensing of prescription drugs does not adversely impact access to these medications for persons with pain.
You can read the White House’s report at: http://www.whitehousedrugpolicy.gov/
The ASPI’s position statement at:http://ASPI.wisc.edu/policy.htm
CAROLINAS HOLD PAIN CONGRESS
The Carolinas Center for Hospice and End of Life Care will hold a two-day Carolinas Pain Congress on March 16-17 that will feature national pain management experts including June Dahl, co-founder of the ASPI. The event will also offer an opportunity for participants to learn more about the North Carolina and South Carolina Pain Initiatives.
For more information see: http://www.carolinasendoflifecare.org/EducationalPrograms.html
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