June 2006 E-Newsletter

ASPI Annual Meeting Sizzles in Arizona

Mary Bennett Receives AACPI Distinguished Service Award

Pain Champions Honored

Feds Ask AACPI For Input On Prescription Monitoring

Cancer Survivorship Bill Introduced

Congressional Briefing Draws Attention to Pain Epidemic

WHO Analgesic Ladder Turns 20

AACPI ANNUAL MEETING SIZZLES IN ARIZONA

The hot Arizona weather didn’t wilt the enthusiasm of the attendees of the American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives’ 17th annual meeting held earlier this month in Phoenix. Over 120 health care professionals, educators, researchers, and advocates from 33 states and the District of Columbia were treated to top notch presenters, and came away from the meeting energized and armed with new resources to improve the quality of life for persons with pain. The overwhelming positive feedback from those who attended is testament to the meeting’s unique format, which emphasizes an interdisciplinary approach to improving pain management. The meeting’s success also reflects the hard work put in by the host Initiative, the Arizona Pain Initiative. Don’t miss next year’s meeting, which will be held in beautiful Boston, MA from June 21-23, 2007.

MARY BENNETT RECEIVES ASPI DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD

Mary Bennett is the 2006 recipient of the ASPI’s Distinguished Service Award. The award recognizes Mary’s contributions to the State Pain Initiative movement and to the relief of pain. Many State Pain Initiatives have benefited from Mary’s dedication and passion to the mission of improving pain relief during her tenure as outreach director for the ASPI, and her commitment continues with her new role as director of mobilization for the American Pain Foundation, one of ASPI’s national collaborators. Congratulations Mary on an honor greatly deserved!

PAIN CHAMPIONS HONORED

Each year, the ASPI recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the growth, development and accomplishments of a State Pain Initiative. The 2006 Pain Initiative Champions are:

Katie Bond (Arizona Pain Initiative)
Jim Dube (Nebraska Pain Initiative)
Walter Forman (New Mexico Pain Initiative)
Chris Herndon (Missouri Pain Initiative)
William Marcus (Northern California Pain Initiative)
David Mayschak (Washington / Alaska Pain Initiative)
Kristina Thomson (New York and New Jersey Pain Initiatives)
Barbara Whitlatch (Southern California Cancer Pain Initiative)

The ASPI’s Champion for Pain Relief-Public Awareness Award is given to a prominent national or state figure that has made exceptional contributions to raising public awareness of uncontrolled pain as a major health crisis and has championed improvements. The 2006 recipient is Arizona State Senator Carolyn Allen.

The ASPI’s Excellence in Pain Management-Institution Award recognizes an institution, organization, or governmental agency for its outstanding efforts to improve pain management. The 2006 recipient is St. Rose Dominican Hospitals, Henderson, NV. Congratulations to all the 2006 ASPI award recipients.

FEDS ASK ASPI FOR INPUT ON PRESCRIPTION MONITORING

The ASPI and several of its State Pain Initiatives were recently asked by the federal Department of Health for their opinions about state prescription monitoring programs. The inquiry is part of the federal government’s attempt to assess the impact these programs have on patient care as required by the National All Schedules Prescription Electronic Reporting (NASPER) Act of 2005. The Dept. of Health sought out the ASPI and State Pain Initiatives because of their leadership on this issue and their extensive knowledge of the barriers that interfere with pain management. In 2002, the ASPI issued a position statement on prescription monitoring programs that recommends criteria to minimize the potential adverse impact the programs may have on access to pain medications. The ASPI’s statement is available online at http://www.ASPI.wisc.edu/position.htm

CANCER SURVIVORSHIP BILL INTRODUCED

Legislation recently introduced in Congress expands research and strengthens programs at the National Cancer Institute and NCI-designated cancer centers to improve the quality of life of cancer survivors. H.R. 5390, the Cancer Survivorship and Quality of Life Act, also appropriates funds to support local, community-based programs that provide direct services to improve cancer survivorship and the quality of life for cancer survivors. You can view the text of H.R 5390 at http://thomas.loc.gov/

CONGRESSIONAL BRIEFING DRAWS ATTENTION TO PAIN EPIDEMIC

On June 13th, members of Congress and their staff turned out to learn more about the problem of inadequately treated pain. The briefing featured the perspectives of nationally renowned pain management experts Howard Heit MD, and Rollin Gallagher MD, as well as the testimony of Mary Vargas who spoke about the personal impact of pain on her life. The briefing offered an opportunity to encourage members of Congress to support the National Pain Care Policy Act (HR 1020), which calls for greater national investment in pain research, treatment and awareness. Read a summary of the briefing on the American Pain Foundation’s website at http://www.painfoundation.org

WHO ANALGESIC LADDER TURNS 20

An appraisal of the WHO Analgesic Ladder on its 20th anniversary is the focus of the current issue of Cancer Pain Release, the publication of the WHO Pain and Palliative Care Communications Program.

The issue features an interview with Dr. Kathleen Foley, former chair of the WHO Expert Committee on Cancer Pain Relief and Active Supportive Care, the group that drafted the WHO guidelines. Praised for its simplicity and clarity, criticized for its omissions, the WHO ladder remains an icon for analgesic drug therapy.

The issue highlights research supporting and refuting the WHO Analgesic Ladder and provides online links to the WHO source documents about the method to relieve cancer pain.

To read this issue online, visit: www.WHOcancerpain.wisc.edu/eng/19_1/19_1.html

To receive your own print copy of Cancer Pain Release, visit: http://www.WHOcancerpain.wisc.edu/feedback.html

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Contact Us: University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health Rm 4720 1300 University Ave Madison, WI 53706 Phone: (608) 265-4013 Fax: (608) 265-4014 aspi@mailplus.wisc.edu