Organization of hospital-based acute pain management programs

Background. The management of acute pain is an aspect of hospital-based practice that has been neglected. Control of pain is important for ethical reasons, for compliance with new guidelines and standards, and for optimizing patient satisfaction and outcomes. Methods. We review the rationale for establishing priority to the control of acute pain, the importance of an institutional approach to improve pain management, and specific steps in the establishment and conduct of an acute pain program. Results. Improvement in pain control depends on an institutional approach to facilitate changes in attitude and prioritization. Pain management programs should provide for patient and staff education, adequate documentation of care, institutional standards for pain control, quality assurance/continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities, and periodic review of practice and policy. Conclusions, Effective pain management can set the stage for a rehabilitation approach to postoperative care, which should lead to earlier recovery and improved outcomes.