Follow Directions: How to Use Methadone Safely 5/31/09 Follow Directions: How to Use Methadone Safely – is designed to reach treatment programs and patients, and consumers to help educate them about the safe use of methadone
ACPA Consumer Guide to Pain Medication and Treatments January 12, 2009 The ACPA believes that people with chronic pain benefit from being well informed about their medications. This knowledge may relieve the fears that can interfere with receiving maximum benefits from medications.This supplement is not meant to serve as medical advice for your condition or regarding your medication needs. Remember that the best source of information about your health and medication needs is from an open dialogue with your treating doctor
House passed the Pain Care Policy Act of 2009 3/30/2009 Pain is the most common reason Americans access the health care system and is a leading contributor to health care costs. Pain is also a leading cause of disability. Most painful conditions can be relieved with proper treatment, and providing adequate pain management is a crucial component of improving and maintaining quality of life for patients, survivors, and their loved ones. Yet people in pain often face significant barriers that can prevent proper assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of their pain. The National Pain Care Policy Act of 2009 is designed to address many of these barriers by improving pain care research, education, training, access, outreach and care.
Fibromyalgia Awareness Day 5/12/09 The National Fibromyalgia Association’s theme for the 2009 National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day campaign is “Fibromyalgia Affects Everyone” and will focus on the far-reaching effects of this disorder—from broken lives to the economic costs to patients and society.
Visit the National Fibromyalgia Association at http://www.fmaware.org to learn more.
Pain QuickAlert February 27, 2009 Coalition of Pain Experts Offers Guidance on Measures to Prevent Misuse and Abuse of Pain Medications; Calls for Treating Chronic Pain as a Chronic Disease
Patient Advocate Foundation’s Co-Pay Relief Program (CPR) 02/01/2009 Patient Advocate Foundation’s Co-Pay Relief Program (CPR) is pleased to announce the launch of a pain fund to serve patients suffering with chronic pain, beginning on February 1, 2009.
Fibromyalgia PSA 12/17/2008 The First Lady of Idaho, Lori Otter has partnered with the ACPA to create a public service announcement on managing chronic pain. Click the link below to view.
Follow-Up From Your Visit December 9, 2008 It is important that after your appointment with your doctor you follow through with what was discussed during your visit. The ACPA Follow-Up tool provides you with this simple guide to ensure that you complete all the treatments/advice/ recommendations. Keep in mind that you play a significant role in your health care.
Back Pain Study November 11, 2008 Participate in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded research study on Web-based support for back pain. • You may experience reduced pain and increased physical functioning. • Learn more about back pain. • May receive up to $200. CONTACT US Elizabeth Yiu eyiu@inflexxion.com 800 848-3895 x255 Inflexxion, Inc. 320 Needham St. Newton, MA 02464
When Good Medicines Become Bad Drugs October 29, 2008 A very successful webcast on October 22, facilitated by General Barry McCaffrey, When Good Medicines Become Bad Drugs, led panelists through a robust and insightful discussion about the safe and appropriate use of prescription opioid pain medications. An archive of the webcast is available: www.goodmedicinesbaddrugs.com.
Migraine Headache Study October 21, 2008 Participate in a National Institutes of Health (NIH) funded research study on Web-based support for migraine headache. • You may experience reduced frequency & severity of headaches • Learn more about migraine headache. • Earn up to $100. CONTACT US 617-332-6028 ext 270. Email: jainscough@inflexxion.com
September as Pain Awareness Month in the Golden State August 21, 2008 For the 5th consecutive year, For Grace has sponsored a resolution proclaiming September as Pain Awareness Month in the Golden State. This year we worked with Senator Carole Migden (D-3rd District) who authored and introduced the resolution, SR 33, for us yesterday.
OPIOID AVAILABILITY ON-LINE COURSE ANNOUNCED Aug 12, 2008 The Pain & Policy Studies Group is pleased to announce our new on-line course Increasing Patient Access to Pain Medicines around the World: A Framework to Improve National Policies that Govern Drug Distribution
Consumers' Guide: Practice Guidelines for Low Back Pain 2/06/2008 Today doctors rely on the current research to determine sound therapies for individual patients. Doctors make the best decisions when they are based on the best evidence and tailored according to individual patient factors, patient preferences, and other considerations such as the availability of therapies and costs. This is called Evidence Based Medicine or EBM. EBM provides a balanced way to explore the best treatment for a patient by looking at all the factors that can provide relief. To read the guideliens, click below.
Rheumatoid Arthritis Medicines: A Guide for Adults June 2008 This guide can help you work with your doctor or nurse to find a medicine for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). It is a lifelong condition. RA causes inflammation (swelling, redness, and pain) that can damage the joints. No treatment can cure RA. But the drugs in this guide can slow down the disease and help you feel better.
Relieving Pain With Abuse-Resistant Drugs 2/27/2008 CBS) For many Americans, drug abuse is a painful fact of life. And pain is often the cause. By one estimate, more than 33 million Americans have abused prescription pain killers. For the second part of the series, Easing the Pain, CBS News medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook examines new prescription pain killers that are designed to prevent abuse.
Policy Evaluation Resources for the Practitioner 1/2/08 Policy Evaluation Resources for the Practitioner An article, titled “Improving state pain policies: Recent progress and continuing opportunities,” was published in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians. This article presents recent results from the PPSG’s national policy evaluation project, and describes how practitioners can use each state’s findings to inform and guide state-level efforts to improve policies affecting appropriate pain management and patient care. The article is available at http://caonline.amcancersoc.org/cgi/reprint/57/6/341.
PainBalance October 2007 PainBalance™ is a comprehensive educational initiative designed to provide quality education, practical tools and current information and resources to support appropriate care for all patients with pain and the clinicians who care for them.
Pain Care Act 2007 July 2007 Pain is the most common reason Americans access the health care system and is a leading contributor to health care costs. Pain is also a leading cause of disability. Most painful conditions can be relieved with proper treatment, and providing adequate pain management is a crucial component of improving and maintaining quality of life for patients, survivors, and their loved ones. Yet people in pain often face significant barriers that can prevent proper assessment, diagnosis, treatment and management of their pain. The National Pain Care Policy Act of 2007 is designed to address many of these barriers by improving pain care research, education, training, access, outreach and care.
Better Information for You August 2007 Over the past few years, academics and policy makers are increasingly focused on developing better information for clinical decision-making, ensuring the translation of research to a variety of audiences, including patient, and considering changes to the d
Tool Kit for Older Adults On September 12, on the occasion of the Global Day Against Pain in Older Persons, an initiative of the International Association for the Study of Pain. Partners have developed a tool kit to for older adults, caregivers and health care providers. Click on the PDF to view the kit.
Grass Roots Action Kit Supporting the Pain Care Policy Act (House Bill 1020) at the grassroots level. For more information, click on the PDF file. Your voice counts!
September is Pain Awareness month in California For Grace, for the third consecutive year, has authored a resolution (SR 34) with the sponsorship of State Senator Liz Figueroa proclaiming September as Pain Awareness Month in California. September, due to the efforts of Partners for Understanding Pain, has now been recognized . nationwide as the month to acknowledge pain as a major health issue in the country.
Proclamations Tool Kit The goal is to obtain a Governor’s Proclamation declaring September 2005 as Pain Awareness Month.
A Consumer Guide to Options for Managing Chronic Pain May 5, 2005 Pain is in the news and not always in ways the 50 million Americans living with pain might hope. Two COX-2 non-steroidal anti-inflammatory (NSAID) medications have been withdrawn from the market and the FDA has mandated more stringent warnings on all NSAIDS. For many people with pain, the medications now under fire make the difference between productivity and disability. But many also worry about the risks.
The American Chronic Pain Association, the National Pain Foundation, and the American Pain Foundation have created A CONSUMER GUIDE TO OPTIONS FOR MANAGING CHRONIC PAIN. The guide answers key questions about recent developments and offers support for people with pain and the challenges they face.
On-line advocacy center September 2005 The American Pain Foundation has launched an on-line advocacy center
Too Many Trips to the Emergency Room May 2006 People with pain often have more experience with the emergency department than they would like. And that experience is not always good.
The ACPA conducted an on-line survey about this experience and presented a poster of findings at the recent APS meeting. Here is a story about the finding from UPI.
Sweeping Veterans Mental Health Bill Now Law October 27 2008 SWEEPING VETERANS’ MENTAL HEALTH BILL NOW LAW Akaka’s legislation was inspired by first-hand accounts from veterans and their families.
