Documentation and potential tools in long-term opioid therapy for pain

Anesthesiol Clin. 2007 Dec;25(4):809-23, vii. doi: 10.1016/j.anclin.2007.07.005.

Abstract

The field of pain medicine is experiencing increased pressure from regulatory agencies and other sources regarding the continuation, or even initial use, of opioids in pain patients. Therefore, it is essential that pain clinicians provide rationale for engaging in this modality of treatment and provide ample documentation in this regard. Thus, assessment and documentation are cornerstones for both protecting your practice and obtaining optimal patient outcomes while on opioid therapy. Several potential tools and documentation strategies are discussed that will aid clinicians in providing evidence for the continuation of this type of treatment for their patients.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Analgesics, Opioid / adverse effects
  • Analgesics, Opioid / therapeutic use*
  • Chronic Disease
  • Documentation / methods*
  • Drug Utilization
  • Drug and Narcotic Control / methods
  • Humans
  • Medical Records
  • Pain / drug therapy*
  • Pain Measurement / methods*
  • Patient Selection
  • Risk Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires
  • Time
  • Treatment Outcome

Substances

  • Analgesics, Opioid