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October 2006 E-Newsletter

gotoNew Name Reflects 20 Years of Progress
gotoSAVE THE DATE: Annual Meeting of the Alliance of State Pain Initiatives
gotoIndiana Pain Initiative Holds Listening Session
gotoNew Resource for People Living with Pain

NEW NAME REFLECTS 20 YEARS OF PROGRESS

The American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives (AACPI) has changed its name to the Alliance of State Pain Initiatives to reflect the growth of the State Pain Initiative (SPI) movement and the National Office in improving the management of cancer and other types of pain.  The first state Cancer Pain Initiative was established in Wisconsin in 1986 to address the unmet pain management needs of persons with cancer pain. Since then, advocates for better pain care established similar organizations in many other states.  State Cancer Pain Initiatives soon became widely recognized as an effective force in improving the management of cancer pain, and many expanded their educational, outreach and advocacy efforts to address the under treatment of other types of pain.

The tremendous growth and success of the State Pain Initiative movement precipitated the forming of the Alliance of State Pain Initiatives (formerly AACPI) in 1996 with a National Office located at the University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health.  The National Office facilitates the sharing of resources among SPIs, develops innovative pain management improvement programs, organizes an annual national meeting, and serves as the collective voice for the SPIs on national issues.  The new name honors the collaborative spirit of the SPIs who generously share their time and efforts to help promote pain relief nationwide.  Check out the new website at www.aspi.wisc.edu and don’t forget to update your links and bookmarks.

SAVE THE DATE:  JUNE 21-23, 2007 - ANNUAL MEETING OF THE ALLIANCE OF
STATE PAIN INITIATIVES

Mark you calendar and plan to join pain management advocates and leaders from across the country at the Alliance of State Pain Initiatives’ annual national meeting June 21-23, 2007 in Boston, MA. Come see why many describe the ASPI’s national meeting as an exceptional educational and networking opportunity.  The 2007 meeting will once again offer continuing education for health care professionals and valuable resources and programs to promote better pain care.  The keynote speaker will be Ira Byock, MD, a nationally recognized authority in palliative and end-of-life care. He is Co-founder of the Life’s End Institute: Missoula Demonstration Project, Inc., a community-based organization working to improve end-of-life experience, and he is a faculty member at Dartmouth School of Medicine and director of palliative medicine at Dartmouth.  Keep watching this E-Newsletter for more details and registration information.

INDIANA PAIN INITIATIVE HOLDS LISTENING SESSION

The Indiana Pain Initiative, a program of the Indiana Hospice and Palliative Care Organization, recently held a public listening session in Indianapolis that featured a presentation by Dr. Carmen Green on disparities in pain management by gender, race, and ethnicity of patients.  A question and answer period followed the presentation with comments by consumers and professionals.  Attendees included representatives from state government, the medical community, the American Cancer Society, nursing schools, the pharmaceutical industry and consumers.  The session was recorded for a local public radio program and covered by a major state newspaper that is planning to publish a series of articles on pain management next month.  For more information on the Indiana Pain Initiative contact Harriet O’Connor at hoconnor@ihpco.org

NEW RESOURCE FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH PAIN

The American Pain Foundation released a new resource, “Treatment Options: A Guide for People Living with Pain”. Written and reviewed by leading pain specialists, including two members of the Advisory Council for the Alliance of State Pain Initiatives, the guide provides credible, comprehensive information about medications, psychosocial interventions, complementary approaches, rehabilitation therapies, surgical interventions and much more. For information about the guide, go to the APF’s website at www.painfoundation.org

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