Most physicians will, at some point, manage conditions or treatments that cause patients pain. Although there are various methods physicians can employ to manage acute and chronic pain levels, medications constitute the majority of most therapeutic regimens. Because pain levels are often subjective, determining the appropriate dosage of medications can prove difficult. As an added factor, physicians must also keep in mind that prolonged use of narcotic analgesics may result in patient addiction.
On the other end of the spectrum, it is also possible for healthcare providers to under-treat patients who do present a valid need for narcotics due to concerns of addiction, recreational use or to sell. However, questioning a patient's level of pain may result in allegations of a failure to provide sufficient pain relief. Additionally, physicians who emphasize pain management as a significant part of their practice are more susceptible to litigation.
The ELM Pain Management course outlines the importance of certain pain management routine practices that may help to avoid such events from occurring and may assist the defense of such allegations, should a lawsuit be filed.
For more information on ELM educational programs, please visit the ELM web site, www.elmexchange.com, contact ELM at 646-536-7544 x 2, or email info@elmexchange.com.
For more than 20 years, ELM has worked with hospitals, health systems, and insurance carriers to educate healthcare providers about risk and patient safety. ELM programs are a tested and proven offering that provides organizations with a method to proactively address critical risk issues and to easily monitor and document those efforts.