Page 35 - Part 2 Anesthesiology Common Risk Issues

SVMIC Anesthesiology: Common Risk Issues

of the techniques and tools that are particularly useful in

accurately diagnosing the cause or causes of each patient’s
pain and then targeting the treatment to that cause. These bear

repeating in this course. In addition to refreshing the reader
on the different pain states and mechanisms that must be

considered in any TPT model, we will discuss keys to a pain-
specific history (S.C.R.I.P.T), physical exam, and assessment.

Finally, we will review a multimodal treatment algorithm
(M.I.P.S.) that helps ensure that all components of the causes of

pain and dysfunction are appropriately targeted.

In her recent SVMIC podcast, “Pain Points”, Dr. Vanterpool
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discussed her practice of focusing on helping patients reclaim

functional quality of life by figuring out what’s causing the pain
and then targeting treatments to that cause. She states, “One

of those goals is to reduce the prescribing of opioids but not at
the expense of the patient’s pain and ability to function because

they’re hurting. There are very good ways that physicians can
figure out what’s causing pain and treat it without using opioids

or by minimizing the use of opioids. The patient’s pain report of
“0 out of 10” pain or “10 out of 10” pain, keep in mind there’s a

reason why the patient is experiencing that pain. It’s not treating
the number or the pain score, it is treating the cause of the

pain. The clinician’s role is to figure out the cause of the pain.
Targeted pain treatment focuses on getting to the root cause of

the pain or accurately diagnosing the cause of the pain and then
targeting the treatment to the cause; and so, when we’re trying

to understand what’s going on with the patient, it’s important to
understand a few things.”

This is detailed further in her article, “Targeted Pain Treatment —

14 https://home.svmic.com/resources/podcast/episode-033-pain-points

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