Vizient, Inc. (Irving, TX) has published a guide for establishing a comprehensive pain management program to help health systems better manage patients suffering from chronic pain and address the estimated annual $635 billion in costs associated with it. Vizient created the guide in collaboration with clinicians from five member hospitals. Guidance provided to hospitals includes the following:
- Comprehensive Assessment of Target Patients
- Establishing a Formal Referral Program
- Assessment of Available Resources
The guide also lays out pharmacological, non-pharmacological and interventional pain management strategies and provides metrics to assist in establishing a systematic way for evaluating a comprehensive pain program that provides fundamental measures of success.