The first National Pain Strategy Chat was held on September 29, 2015. Hosted by the Power of Pain Foundation with formal guest speakers Bob Twillman, Executive Director of the American Academy of Pain Management, Lynn R Webster VP of Scientific Affairs, PRA HS, Former President of the American Academy of Pain Medicine, Author of The Painful Truth and Christin Veasley, founding member of the Chronic Pain Research Alliance, whose mission is to advance scientific research on prevalent, neglected and poorly understood pain disorders that frequently co-occur and disproportionately affect women.
“The Assistant Secretary for Health and Human Services (HHS) asked the Interagency Pain Research Coordinating Committee (IPRCC) to oversee creation of this resultant National Pain Strategy. Guided and coordinated by an oversight panel, expert working groups explored six important areas of need identified in the IOM recommendations—population research, prevention and care, disparities, service delivery and reimbursement, professional education and training, and public awareness and communication. The working groups comprised people from a broad array of relevant public and private organizations, including health care providers, insurers, and people with pain and their advocates.”
Excerpt from EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Page 3.
National Pain Strategy
A Comprehensive Population Health-Level Strategy for Pain
http://iprcc.nih.gov/docs/DraftHHSNationalPainStrategy.pdf
Attendee’s included but are not limited to, Women in Pain (@forgrace), Gina Salminen (@gnsalminen), American Academy of Pain Management (@AAPainManage), PAINS Project (@PAINSProject), The Pain Community (@PainComm), Fibro and Pain (@FibroAndPain), US Pain Foundation (@US_Pain), State Pain Policy Advocacy Network SPPAN (@SPPAN1), The American Chronic Pain Association (@ACPA), Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Association RSDSA (@RSDSA), Community Pain Center (@Our_CPC), Bob Twillman (@BobTwillman), Lynn Webster (@LynnRWebster), Christin Veasley (@CPRAlliance_org), Power of Pain Foundation (@powerofpain), Barby Ingle (@barbyingle), Consumer Pain Advocacy Task Force CPATF http://consumerpainadvocacy.org/twitter-chat/
The Chat Transcript is available at:
The Consumer Pain Advocacy Task Force CPATF
Direct link to PDF
http://consumerpainadvocacy.org/twitter-chat/ http://consumerpainadvocacy.org/
The Interagency Pain Research Coordinatiing Committee- National Pain Strategy
http://iprcc.nih.gov/National_Pain_Strategy/NPS_Main.htm
Solicitation of Public Comments on Draft National Pain Strategy
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
National Institutes of Health
http://iprcc.nih.gov/National_Pain_Strategy/Public_Comment_NPS_Draft.htm
National Pain Strategy
A Comprehensive Population Health-Level Strategy for Pain
http://iprcc.nih.gov/docs/DraftHHSNationalPainStrategy.pdf
Overview of the NPS Planning Process and Major Elements by Sean Mackey –
Presented at the NPS Collaborators Meeting Convened by PAINS – June 29, 2015
http://www.painsproject.org/overview-nps-planning-process/
While I participated to send out Questions, and re-share answers, I used the opportunity to listen instead of voice any thought at this time.
In closing, The Power of Pain Foundation asked – We’ve covered quite a bit today. Would you be interested in a future chat about NPS—if yes, on what? #CPATF #NPSChat
My response- Yes. Q and A’s educate to form solutions and partnerships. Chats provide opportunity for involvement.
This was my only contribution. For those who haven’t read the National Pain Strategy, I encourage you to do so now. We often want to be involved and voice our opinions, we want to help make change, or be there to advocate for our loved ones, or ourselves, yet too often we rely on others to tell us what something is, what it says, or what it’s all about. You have to read it for yourself, otherwise, you’re only receiving pieces and parts and from another’s perspective. I’m not embarrassed to admit a one time read isn’t enough. Neither is the second re-do. It’s in-depth and complex.
Future chats are important for all of us to come together to discuss the report.
After the NPSChat I was asked “@rsdcrpsfire @powerofpain Do you believe Sean Mackey cares? or NIH cares?”
I did exchange further conversation with the person who asked and replying to other questions. And I hope Mr. Mackey does care as my own daughter is now in the care of Stanford, both transplant center and pain management. His job is above caring though. Learning that Dr. Mackey’s parents both live with chronic pain didn’t really impact me. It only means that he does in fact have a personal connection to pain in addition to his education and experiences. It doesn’t mean at all that it will influence him either way. Of course my heart goes out to his parents.
It’s like saying “my best friend is black” to appease a situation of color. Stating a family member has chronic pain is like attempting a nudge toward acceptance. It doesn’t make any difference to me. Actions speak louder than words, so we’ll see and I do mean that with the utmost respect.
For the sake of the NPS and those of you who support it, I support it for you at this time. I’m not entirely certain of its benefits or that it will be implemented properly. Like most strategies, guidelines, and law the benefits are often dismissed when they matter most.
Having been apart of change and implementation for the current California Pain Management Guidelines I’m not naive to opioid prescribing, risks or need.
There are too many guidelines being developed. The CDC, government and state levels. The only people who are going to suffer are those who are labeled with “pain”.
Opioids don’t kill, being irresponsible does. The double-edged sword in under treated pain and prescribing.
Take Our Survey About the CDC Opioid Guidelines September 29, 2015 By Pat Anson, Editor
Direct link to Survey
https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/GGJ5ZCH
Your voice matters!
I look forward to the next #NPSChat.
Together, we can..
… And we will.
~Twinkle V.
Executive Board/Advocacy Director powerofpain.org
RSD Advisory- Where Chronic Pain & Depression Collide 