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Pain.com: Why did the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) partner with the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to mobilize an effort to promote better pain management?
Ms Scheb: The standards were developed because there is much evidence to suggest that pain is grossly undertreated in the United States, especially in hospitals and other institutional settings. Additionally, unrelieved pain can cause serious physiological, psychological and financial complications to those that endure it. Despite marvelous advances in both technological and pharmacological therapeutics, as well as an incredible spurt of knowledge on the subject of pain management, pain continues to be under-managed and undertreated. The standards provide institutions with invaluable tools to develop and promote systems that support quality pain management. They raise awareness of pain for patients, physicians and staff.
Pain.com: When do the new standards take effect and who is affected by them?
Ms Scheb: The JCAHO Pain Standards went into effect January 1st, 2001. The standards effect all patients in hospitals, nursing homes and clinics. As Dennis O'Leary, President of JCAHO, is quoted in the Washington Post as saying, "This is the first time that we have developed standards for a symptom, but pain is very much a mainstream problem. Millions of people are affected by it."
Pain.com: Specifically, what do the Pain Standards require institutions (i.e., hospitals) to do
Pain.com: Is there a certain standard that is pivotal and foundational to success? It seems like such a lot of new information to be put in place at once.
Pain.com: How does the patient benefit from the standards and better pain management?
Pain.com: How does an organization go about putting the standards in place?
Pain.com: As an organization prepares to meet JCAHO pain standards, what disciplines, what level (i.e., physician, administration, staff nurse, educator), what degree (full-time, part-time. . . ) and for how long are resources being allocated?
Pain.com: It seems like meeting these new standards will require more than just a change in policy and procedure. In some cases, attitudes and culture will have to be adjusted. How will this be accomplished?
Pain.com: Does the Joint Commission really require organizations to measure the quality of their pain management? How is this accomplished?
Pain.com: We have heard that patients are actually "satisfied" with experiencing a lot of pain. How can this be?
Pain.com: If someone is about to have surgery, what can he or she do to educate himself about state of the art pain management for that particular surgery?