LIFE Project Pain Protocol Project
Click here for periodic updates on the Project
August, 2001 - The following is a summary of the highlights being reported for the first quarter of the Project:
- Facility #9 is using another pain scale called the "Mankoski Pain Scale." It has very comprehensive pain descriptions. (viewable at http://valis.com/andi/painscale.html).
- Facility #9 also plans to use the LIFE Project slide presentation on Pain Management as a "coffee table binder" for patient and family education. This and other multimedia presentations can be downloaded from our website at www.lifeproject.org/_about_9.htm.
- Facility #6 is working on a morphine protocol to assist nurses with the formulas and calculations.
- Facility #2 is developing a new pain brochure for patients and their families. As a starting point for producing a brochure, a prototype brochure can be downloaded from the American Pain Foundation website at www.painfoundation.org/page_paguide.asp.
- That same facility is also utilizing the Purdue Pharma training video "Pain Management Across the Continuum of Care: The Patient's Experience." Contact your Purdue rep for more information about this training material.
- Facility #14 has been working more closely with the local hospice provider to conduct staff training, as has Facility #13. All facilities in the Project are reminded that their local hospice agency is an excellent resource. The LIFE Project can provide contact names for local hospices.
- Facility #4 is working on a "comfort kit" that will include numerous non-drug alternatives to pain.
- Facility #1 played host to renowned pain expert, James DuBé, PharmD, in June. His lecture was presented to the medical and nursing staffs of the facility. DuBé is assistant professor and vice chairman of pharmacy practice at the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) and serves in a consulting capacity for Purdue Pharma, LP.
- Facility #12 has experienced an increase in consumer calls due to the radio airing of the LIFE Project public service announcements on pain management.
- Facility #8 conducted retroactive chart reviews prior to being accepted into the Pain Project. As a result, they have been able to develop new flow sheets and PCA charts much sooner than originally planned.
- Facility #11 invited Hospice of the Prairie to conduct an in-service training titled "Hospice Services in a Nursing Facility" in June.
- Ann Allegre, MD, Medical Director of Kansas City Hospice, presented an overview of palliative care to the staff at Facility #10.
- The pain committee at Facility #15 has been meeting twice a month. They have been forwarding copies of their meeting minutes to the Project office.
- Facility #3 reports that the aides in their facility are demonstrating an increased awareness in assessing pain. Not only are they reporting residents in pain to the nursing staff, they are following through when medications don't seem to be working.
- Facility #7 will soon begin using the Wong-Baker pain rating scales.
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