The Complexity Model: A Novel Approach to Improve Chronic Pain Care. Issue 4 (6th March 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Peppin, John F.; Cheatle, Martin D.; Kirsh, Kenneth L.; McCarberg, Bill H.
• Is Part Of: Pain medicine. Volume 16:Issue 4(2015)
• Page Start: 653
• Page End: 666
• Publication Date: 2015-03-06
• Subjects: Pain -- Periodicals; Pain -- Treatment -- Periodicals; Analgesics -- Periodicals; Pain -- Periodicals; Pain Management -- Periodicals; Douleur -- Périodiques; Douleur -- Traitement -- Périodiques; Analgésiques -- Périodiques; Analgésique; Soulagement de la douleur; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 616.047205
• DOI: 10.1111/pme.12621
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1526-2375

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="pme12621-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objective</title> <p>More than 25% of the US population experiences chronic pain; yet few physicians specialize in the field of pain medicine. This article will review a theoretical model of care that stratifies treatment and patients by level and type of complexity and promotes communication between specialist and primary care providers.</p> </sec> <sec id="pme12621-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Discussion</title> <p>The undertreatment of pain was recently brought to national attention to encourage both clinicians and patients to advocate for improved pain care. The specialty of pain medicine and models of care, challenges of managing pain in a primary care setting, and the reliance on an opioid‐focused approach are reviewed. An evolved model of pain care based on the complexity of pain and emphasizing a dynamic collaboration between the primary care provider and the pain specialist is discussed.</p> </sec> <sec id="pme12621-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>From the perspective of the busy clinician, the treatment of chronic pain can be overwhelming. The scarcity of trained pain practitioners and the burgeoning number of patients with chronic pain necessitate a new approach that values the complex nature of chronic pain and offers a practical blueprint to meet these challenges.</p> </sec> </abstract>