> -----Original Message-----
> From: olddad66@runestone.net [SMTP:olddad66@runestone.net]
> Sent: Monday, April 24, 2000 3:57 PM
> To: Multiple recipients of list ADHESIONS
> Subject: Joint Commission Focuses on Pain Management
>
> The information below is from the following web site:
>
> http://www.pain.com/news/jcaho_standards_consumers.cfm
>
> [] Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO)
> Sets New Standards for the Assessment and Management of Pain * -- August
> 3, 1999
>
> Recognizing pain as a major, yet largely avoidable, public health
> problem, the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare
> Organizations has developed standards that create new expectations for
> the assessment and management of pain in accredited hospitals and other
> health care settings. These standards have been endorsed by the
> American Pain Society.
>
> Hospitals, home care agencies, nursing homes, behavioral health
> facilities, outpatient clinics and health plans will be called upon to:
>
> * recognize the right of patients to appropriate assessment and
> management of pain;
>
> * assess the existence and, if so, the nature and intensity of pain in
> all patients;
>
> * record the results of the assessment in a way that facilitates regular
> reassessment and follow-up;
>
> * determine and assure staff competency in pain assessment and
> management, and address pain assessment and management in the
> orientation of all new staff.
>
> * establish policies and procedures which support the appropriate
> prescription or ordering of effective pain medications;
>
> * educate patients and their families about effective pain management,
> and;
>
> * address patient needs for symptom management in the discharge planning
> process.
>
> I have excerpted the following comments from the above article:
>
> The new standards explicitly acknowledge that pain is a co-existing
> condition with a number of diseases and injuries, and require explicit
> attention.
>
> Unrelieved pain has enormous physiological and psychological effects on
> patients. The Joint Commission believes the effective management of
> pain is a crucial component of good care. Research clearly shows that
> unrelieved pain can slow recovery, create burdens for patients and their
> families, and increase costs to the health care system.
>
> The new pain management standards - along with examples of compliance -
> are being included in 2000-2001 standard manuals for the affected Joint
> Commission accreditation programs.
>
> These standards are putting the importance of pain management at center
> stage, ensuring that health care providers and professionals will take
> pain management in a serious way.
>
> ````````````````````````
>
> The 15th century proverb which summarizes the purpose of medicine is:
>
> * To cure sometimes, to relieve often, to comfort always. *
>
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