Ideas and innovations: inclusion of pharmacists in chronic pain management services in a primary care practice

J Opioid Manag. 2011 Nov-Dec;7(6):484-7. doi: 10.5055/jom.2011.0089.

Abstract

Nonmalignant chronic pain management involves an ongoing process of complex evaluations including proper patient selection, proper prescribing, and careful monitoring. In the Pain Management Refill Clinic, patients are stabilized on an opioid regimen by either a pain specialist or a primary care physician (PCP). The PCP assumes long-term prescription of the regimen and proper follow-up. The inclusion of pharmacists in the management of patients suffering from chronic pain has allowed the physicians to improve opioid prescribing, documentation, and monitoring in accordance with chronic nonmalignant pain guidelines.

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / adverse effects
  • Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use*
  • Chronic Pain / drug therapy*
  • Documentation / standards
  • Drug Monitoring / methods
  • Humans
  • Patient Selection
  • Pharmaceutical Services / organization & administration
  • Pharmacists / organization & administration*
  • Practice Guidelines as Topic
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / organization & administration
  • Practice Patterns, Physicians' / standards
  • Primary Health Care / organization & administration*
  • Primary Health Care / standards
  • Professional Role

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid