IOM report can set the stage for improvements in pain care, says APS

The American Pain Society (APS) said that "Relieving Pain in America: A Blueprint for Transforming Prevention, Treatment, and Research, the report submitted to Congress today by the Institute of Medicine, is a major step forward in addressing the nation's leading public health problem - untreated and undertreated chronic pain. APS will make further comments after its leadership has had time to review the entire report.

"The IOM already has succeeded in focusing attention on Capitol Hill to the plight of millions of Americans who endure persistent, often severe pain every day," said Charles J. Inturrisi, PhD, past president of APS. "Pain is a serious and often neglected public health problem that voraciously drains our health care resources. Pain is responsible for inestimable lost wages, impaired worker productivity, and extracts a tragic personal toll on patients and their families."

Inturrisi added that the IOM report can set the stage for improvements in pain care, research and education and also communicate to policy makers and opinion leaders that pain is a major national public health problem that must be addressed with aggressive action.

The broad task for the IOM Pain Committee was to study the current state of science in pain research, patient care and education and explore new approaches to help advance the field. It is the first comprehensive, high-level government look at pain as a prominent public health problem in the United States.

"APS is encouraged that several strong policy initiatives could emerge from recommendations in the IOM report," said Inturrisi, "especially recognition of the benefits of multidisciplinary pain care and improved pain education and training for physicians."

He added that APS hopes the IOM report will spur action on the part of the medical, dental, nursing and other health professional training communities to more fully integrate pain in their curricula.