Pain Society of Alberta urges government to introduce pain strategy to improve outcomes and reduce costs
Edmonton, Alberta, November 3, 2015 (Newswire.com) - November 1 to 7 is National Pain Awareness Week
Pain Society of Alberta urges government to introduce pain strategy to improve outcomes and reduce costs
November 1 to 7 is National Pain Awareness Week. This year’s tagline is to Share Someone’s Pain, drawing attention to the many Albertans living with chronic pain. At press conference and education session in Edmonton, Tuesday, the Pain Society of Alberta (PSA) President Dawn Petit urged government to consider the Alberta Pain Strategy Framework, passed by PSA members at their Annual General Meeting October 17, 2015, and developed in conjunction with the Chronic Pain Section of the Alberta Medical Association (AMA).
“Chronic pain is costly and common,” says Ms. Petit. “There is both a burden to the patient, family and society as a whole. Currently, there is a lack of coordinated care throughout the province. There is an urgent need for government and health professionals to adopt and sustain a provincial pain strategy that aligns with current best practices around the world.”
Dr. Robert Hauptman, Past-President of the AMA Chronic Pain Section also attended the event and stated: “Chronic pain significantly affects the personal, family and economic lives of Albertans, and will become an increasingly significant problem, with growing health costs and changing demographics. A coordinated pain strategy agreed upon by health professionals and government will help curtail these costs.”
Chronic pain affects 1 in 5 Albertans. Despite the frequency of chronic pain in the population and the significant amount of suffering endured by patients with chronic pain, the management of chronic pain is often disjointed, inconsistent and poorly managed. Chronic pain Canada has been estimated to cost over 50 billion dollars annually, more than cancer, diabetes, and heart disease combined. The PSA Alberta Strategy was developed through a Pain Summit in March and recommends interdisciplinary partnerships, coordination and communication, access to informational resources, professional development and education, multifaceted approach to treatment, including self-management, physiotherapy, psychological and medication interventions, and further research into best practices.
The Pain Society of Alberta is a 500 strong organization of health care providers including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physiotherapists, rehabilitation specialists and psychologists who manage patients with pain disorders. PSA exists to educate as well as advocate for health care providers and their patients.
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