Standards and accreditation for chronic pain management programs

Workshop

on IE'.*"'PP""'S.,

PAIN MEASUREMENT:

METHODOLOGICAL

AND INDIVIDUAL

FACTORS I

1

Gary B. Rollman, Department London,

Ontario,

Canada,

of Psychology, Organizer.

Participants: Gary B. Rollman, University The variability of pain

of Western

University

Ontario,

of Western

London,

Ontario,

Ontario,

Canada

Pa010 Procacci, University of Florence, Florence, Italy Stimulus characteristics and cross-cultural factors Donald D. Price, Medical College Measurement characteristics Ulf Lindblom, Karolinska Patient versus pain-free Laurence A. Bradley, Personality factors.

of Virginia,

Hospital, observers

Bowman

Stockholm,

Gray School

Richmond,

Virginia,

U.S.A.

Sweden

of Medicine,

Winston-Salem,

N.C. USA

Research on pain, whether in the laboratory or clinic, often neglects the special properties of the stressors, measures, and subjects. Consequentresults. The ly, ostensibly similar studies yield strikinqly contradictory participants in this Workshop will examine critical differences in pain production, pain measurement, and subject/patient characteristics with the hope of encouraging further research on the role of these factors in the complex task of pain assessment.

STANDARDS AND ACCREDITATION FOR CHRONIC PAIN MANAGEMENT PROGRAMS

F

In 1983, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities published standards for chronic pain management programs. This is the first time that the rapidly growing pain industry has come together to establish its own performance expectations. Also in 1983, the Commission implemented a mechanism by which the standards are applied by an independent, professional, and experienced standard-setting and accreditation authority. A highly respected panel of leaders in chronic pain management are being brought together in this workshop. Each of the panelists has played a key role in the establishment of this accountability mechanism. In a format which will provide for maximum discussion with the audience, the panelists will discuss various facets of the development and implementation of the standards and accreditation program. The members of the panel are: Gerald M. Aronoff, M.D., Boston Pain Center, Boston, Massachusetts; Steven F. Brena, M.D., Emory University Pain Control Center, Atlanta, Georgia; Benjamin L. Crue, Jr., M.D., New Hope Pain Center, Alhambra, California; Richard L. Stieg, M.D., Boulder Pain Control Center, Boulder, Colorado; Jack L. Nichols, Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, Tucson, Arizona; and Richard I. Newman, Ph.D., Northwest Pain Center, Portland, Oregon.