Library
APS Bulletin • Volume 17, Number 2, 2007
President’s Message
Judith Paice, PhD RN
Transforming Public Policy
The American Pain Society is dedicated to research, education, treatment, and advocacy. Our updated logo highlights these four domains, which you will see in our new “identity” that appears in this issue of the Bulletin, on our Web site, and throughout all of our official materials. This new identity reflects the image and personality of our organization: expert, scientific leaders who are committed to transforming the world of pain.
And while our identity is crucial, it is the work that we do in each of these areas that will ultimately lead us to achieve our vision: a world where pain prevention and relief are available to all people. To foster research, we continue to provide small grants to young investigators and to collaborate with the NIH Pain Consortium to improve funding for pain-related studies. Educational efforts include our annual scientific program (which was quite successful!) and outreach to primary-care clinicians and others who treat people in pain. We advance the practice of evidence-based treatment of pain through the Clinical Practice Guideline Program and the publication of Principles of Analgesic Use in the Treatment of Acute Pain and Cancer Pain (the 6th edition will be available soon). Four guidelines have been published to date and a fifth, Management of Low Back Pain, is due for release this year. Another guideline, Opioids for Non-Cancer Pain, is currently in development and will be released in 2008.
Advocating for Strong Public Policy
What about “advocacy”? APS has always been an advocate in the field of pain. As the only multidisciplinary, scientific organization, we provide a credible voice to professionals, policy makers, and the public about pain-related matters. Yet, in the past, our advocacy role has been reactive. We have responded when an issue was raised in the media, legislature, or the courts. We now have an opportunity to be proactive by directing public policy and improving awareness among professionals, the public, and others who influence pain research and its treatment.
Policy
Our work to advance policy began in preparation for the annual meeting in Washington, DC. The Legislative and Advocacy Task Force developed an agenda to discuss with legislators: to increase federal funding for research, to improve funding for clinical pain management services, and to develop policy and advocacy positions related to the issue of prescription drug abuse. During our visits to the Hill, we explained the National Pain Care Policy Act of 2007, which should be introduced this summer. Highlights of the bill will include authorizing an Institute of Medicine Conference on Pain, providing a statutory base for the trans-institute Pain Consortium at the NIH, improving pain care education and training, and developing a pain management public awareness campaign. We highlighted another bill, the Military and Veterans Pain Care Act of 2007, designed to ensure improvement in pain care services, research, education and training for the benefit of both active duty and veteran populations. This first venture at establishing relationships with legislators was highly productive.
Awareness
The average citizen is not aware of the mechanisms of pain, its treatment, or many of the controversies surrounding the management of this syndrome. That changes once they or their loved ones experience chronic pain and are unable to access pain specialists, medications, and appropriate care. The more the general public understands about pain the better. An informed public can advocate for improved funding for research, public policy that supports balance in the availability of medications, and appropriate reimbursement for comprehensive, interdisciplinary care.
The media can be a positive force in educating the public. As a result of our public relations efforts led by Chuck Weber, several stories that address pain have appeared in the lay press. In May, the Associated Press developed a national wire story, “Doctors Urge Better Pain Care for Troops,” that was picked up by major media outlets, including CBS News, MSNBC, Fox News and a variety of newspapers. The APS meeting was mentioned in this article. The cover story of Newsweek’s June 6 edition, “The New War on Pain,” evolved from a symposium on pain in the battlefield. The meeting was referenced and several APS members were cited, including Chuck Inturrisi, Gil Fanciullo, Ed Covington, and Steve Passik.
We will continue these efforts to develop a coordinated, ongoing plan to inform public policy makers and improve awareness. Look to future editions of APS E-News for specific information regarding the introduction of the National Pain Care Policy Act and the Military and Veterans Pain Care Act. This will include strategies you can take to support these efforts and engage with local and national media to promote the dissemination of factual information about pain. We are the leaders who can and should provide expert information to policy makers and the public regarding the science and management of pain.
