Skip To Navagation Skip To Content
March 2007 E-Newsletter
gotoRegister for ASPI Annual Meeting Now, Save $50
gotoAn Emerging Synergy: Pain and Social Work
gotoWyoming Cancer Control Plan Includes Pain Commission
gotoNew Resource Helps Detect Discomfort in Cognitively Impaired
gotoState of Washington Issues Opioid Guidelines for Chronic Pain

REGISTER FOR ASPI ANNUAL MEETING NOW, SAVE $50

Register for the 18th Annual Meeting of the Alliance of State Pain Initiatives by May 1 and save $50 off the full meeting registration cost.  The ASPI annual meeting offers a great opportunity to learn about creative educational, advocacy, and practice improvement efforts happening across the country.  The meeting features five plenary sessions led by the nation’s top experts in pain and palliative care, and 12 educational workshops covering diverse clinical, organizational, and policy topics in pain management.  Join us June 21 to 23, 2007, in beautiful Boston, and don’t forget to sign up for the special Boston Duck Tour and dinner on June 22!  Visit the ASPI’s website at www.aspi.wisc.edu for registration information and meeting details.

AN EMERGING SYNERGY:  PAIN AND SOCIAL WORK

March is Social Work Awareness Month and two social work professional on the ASPI’s Advisory Council, Terry Altilio, LCSW and Shirley Otis-Green, MSW, LCSW, ACSW, OSW-C, would like to share the following message about the importance of social work in pain management.

“In honor of Social Work Awareness Month, we are calling attention to the emerging, yet unrealized potential for skilled social workers to contribute to the lives of persons living with pain. For years, a small cadre of practitioners has demonstrated the relevance of social work training to many aspects of pain management. More recently there is an increased presence of the profession within leading educational, leadership and advocacy organizations, such as the American Pain Foundation and the Alliance of State Pain Initiatives and through the Mayday Fund’s Pain & Society Fellowship Project. Many social work conferences and curriculums involving end-of-life and palliative care now include pain and symptom management as a core competency; yet the role of the profession in chronic pain is largely untapped. The historical commitment of social work to the underserved, to social justice and to the relief of suffering provides a context that naturally applies to the tragedy of  undertreatment of pain.

There are more than 100,000 heath care social workers across the country. These skilled professionals provide the first and, in some instances, the only mental health contact for patients with chronic pain, particularly in institutional settings.  Social workers practice in hospitals, extended care facilities, hospices, senior centers, advocacy agencies and policy venues.

For patients with chronic pain, social workers may function as advocates, care managers, clinicians, educators and coordinators of their treatment plan. They are often instrumental in ensuring access to appropriate pharmacotherapy and other pain treatments, and may become the major support for patients, family and caregivers. Fears about addiction and other barriers to adequate pain management, including issues with child care or transportation to appointments, are often vetted by socials workers. These clinicians can also teach skills and strategies to enhance pain relief, such as relaxation, breathing
exercise and goal setting.

Social workers collaborate with other members of the health care team and play an increasingly important role in addressing chronic pain. They help patients suffering with chronic pain navigate the health care system and optimize access to pain care. Social Work Awareness Month provides an occasion both to celebrate our profession and to challenge ourselves to call attention to the tragedy of the undertreatment of pain.”

WYOMING CANCER CONTROL PLAN INCLUDES PAIN COMMISSION

Legislation (Senate File 131) was signed into law last week that directs the Wyoming Department of Health to develop a comprehensive cancer control plan based on the recommendations from the Wyoming cancer control consortium.  The new law also authorizes the Department to establish a state pain commission to research issues associated with pain management and develop recommendations to improve pain care.

NEW RESOURCE HELPS DETECT DISCOMFORT IN COGNITIVELY IMPAIRED

The ASPI’s new educational video, “Detecting Discomfort in Dementia: Focus on Behaviors - What Nursing Assistants Need to Know About Pain,” is attracting a lot of interest within the health care community as providers struggle to better assess and manage pain in cognitively impaired persons.  Persons with dementia are at high risk of having their pain inadequately managed because they frequently have difficulty communicating verbally, and health care providers often do not recognize the nonverbal and behavioral signs that indicate the presence of pain. The 13-minute video uses real-life examples of long-term care residents’ discomfort behaviors and points out what to look for when caring for persons with dementia and the interventions that can be used to provide effective relief.  Available in both VHS or DVD formats, the video comes with a “Tools for In-service Education” booklet that contains a discussion guide, a role play exercise, and knowledge test, as well as suggestions on how to introduce the video and adapt it for education geared toward culture change.  The ASPI is pleased to offer this exceptional resource at a low cost of $49.99.  To order the video, visit the ASPI's online Resource Center at www.trc.wisc.edu or call 608-262-0978.

STATE OF WASHINGTON ISSUES OPIOID GUIDELINES FOR CHRONIC PAIN

A coalition of medical directors from six state government agencies in the State of Washington issued guidelines designed to help physicians in the State who prescribe opioids for the treatment of chronic non-cancer pain. The guidelines recommend that the total daily dose of opioids should not exceed 120 milligrams of morphine or its equivalent.  If there is no improvement in both pain control and function, the guidelines recommend that a physician seek consultation before increasing the dose above 120 mg.  The guidelines, dosage calculator and related tools are available at: http://www.agencymeddirectors.wa.gov/

top top
ASPI Home | Annual Meeting | About ASPI | State Pain Initiatives | Events | E-Newsletter | Media | Public Policy | Position Statement
Professional Education | Public Education | ASPI Leader Toolbox | Resource Center | Related Links | SPI Leader Login | Legal