Resources for Management of Pain
Re-Release of MMA/BOLIM Chronic Pain Project Home Study
The MMA/BOLIM Chronic Pain Project was initially funded by Maine’s Board of Licensure in Medicine (BOLIM), to be administered through Maine Medical Association (MMA), in March, 2008. The Project was re-funded for a second year, to run through June 30, 2010.
The Project includes listings of resources, available on MMA’s website at www.mainmed.com, in-office consultations, and a CME Home Study, which is being re-released for its second year of availability in a more user-friendly, totally on-line format. Any questions regarding the Home Study or other aspects of the Project may be directed to Noel J. Genova, MA, PA-C, Project Director, at NoelPAC@aol.com, or to Gordon Smith, Esq., Executive VP at MMA, at gsmith@mainemed.com. Credit for the Home Study may be obtained through October 1st, 2010.
Although the Home Study was researched and drafted in the time period April through September of 2008, the information contained in the monograph remains current. Discussions regarding treatment of chronic pain, recognition of prescription pain medication abuse and addiction, and prevention of diversion of controlled medications are on-going. Information regarding these efforts is available from Ms. Genova or Mr. Smith. Excellent resources regarding addiction to and abuse of medication are available through Maine’s Office of Substance Abuse, at www.maine.gov/bds/osa.
Published information regarding appropriate treatment of chronic pain, including use of chronic opioid therapy, continues to become available. Interested readers may wish to review “Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Chronic Opioid Therapy in Chronic Noncancer Pain”, by Chou R, Fanciullo G, Fine P, et al; in The Journal of Pain; Vol. 10, No. 2; February, 2009; pp. 113-130. The authors point out that good evidence is lacking in many areas regarding treatment of chronic pain. In addition, the publication includes excellent appendices on recognition of addiction, evaluation of patient function, and tools for stratifying risk of misuse of opioid medication.
We hope that you find the Home Study to be useful and accessible. Thank you for your attention to the important issue of appropriate treatment of chronic pain.