The Role of Anesthesia in Chronic Pain Management
More than 51 million Americans (over 21 percent of the population) experienced chronic pain in 2021. This type of pain can be debilitating for patients and challenging for healthcare providers to treat, especially considering that patients often experience this pain during their daily lives. Understanding chronic pain and the role of anesthesia providers in chronic pain management can help your healthcare facility meet the needs of your patients.
Understanding Chronic Pain and Its Impact
Chronic pain is pain that lasts for over three months. There are countless causes of chronic pain, including arthritis, fibromyalgia and cancer. The physical, emotional and economic toll of chronic pain is hard to measure, but one study found that common pain conditions result in lost productivity amounting to $61 billion annually. This happens because chronic pain can stop patients from functioning and instead leave them dealing with the impacts of their pain.
Patients with this condition often struggle with other medical conditions that result from chronic pain. These conditions include depression, anxiety, injuries and obesity. In fact, as many as 85% of patients who suffer from chronic pain are affected by severe depression.
It is important for healthcare facilities to take a multidisciplinary approach to managing chronic pain. Anesthesia plays a key role in this process because anesthesiologists have valuable expertise in pain management.
The Role of Anesthesia Providers in Chronic Pain Management
Anesthesiologists are critical in managing patient pain. Anesthesia providers specialize in pain management techniques that go beyond surgical anesthesia. They are uniquely qualified to administer pain medication and may devise treatment plans.
The role and importance of the anesthesiologist for someone suffering from chronic pain can’t be overstated. Anesthesiologists perform various pain management procedures, including epidurals, nerve blocks and radiofrequency ablation. Their expertise in these areas allows them to tailor pain management plans to patient needs. They are trained to consider factors such as the type of pain, patient history and overall health when prescribing pain medications and treatments.
Pain medication administration requires skills and experience to ensure patient safety. No healthcare professional is more qualified than an anesthesiologist to ensure patients take pain medication safely and effectively.
Advanced Techniques and Interventions
Advanced pain management techniques such as spinal cord stimulation and intrathecal drug delivery systems are often life-changing for patients, especially for patients whose pain is resistant to conventional treatments.
The world of pain medication and pain management is ever-evolving, and anesthesiologists must engage in continuous learning. Anesthesiologists who stay up-to-date with the latest innovations and changes in pain management can better meet their patients’ needs. As discoveries are made, anesthesiologists can improve chronic pain management outcomes.
Collaborative Care and Patient-Centered Approaches
To manage chronic pain, anesthesia providers and other healthcare professionals (such as pain specialists, physical therapists and psychologists) must collaborate. By working together, anesthesiologists can offer a holistic, patient-centered care model that addresses both the physical and psychological aspects of pain. This can help patients who have experienced debilitating pain and other psychological effects enjoy a more rewarding life.
Improving Patient Outcomes Through Expertise in Pain Management
Patients who connect with the right healthcare providers and the right pain management strategies enjoy improved quality of life, reduced reliance on opioids and improved functional ability. Anesthesia providers are responsible for educating patients about their pain management options. Patients who are informed decision-makers can better advocate for themselves and ultimately find the right pain management plan.
The long-term benefits of expert pain management are clear. Patients who can manage their own pain have reduced hospital visits, higher patient satisfaction and better overall health outcomes.
This is why many healthcare facilities turn to CCI Anesthesia. CCI Anesthesia provides anesthesia practice management to help improve clinical quality and standardize patient-centric care.
How CCI Anesthesia Supports Chronic Pain Management
CCI Anesthesia’s team of experts provides comprehensive pain management services to hospitals and clinics. To keep up with the changing world of chronic pain management, we provide ongoing support and training to ensure anesthesia providers stay at the forefront of this field. This approach improves patient care and enhances hospital service offerings.
How CCI Can Enhance Your Pain Management Services
CCI Anesthesia empowers hospitals with expert anesthesia-led pain management services to improve patient outcomes in chronic pain management.
Learn how partnering with CCI Anesthesia can elevate your hospital’s approach to chronic pain management. Contact CCI Anesthesia today to explore how our expertise in pain management can lead to better patient outcomes and satisfaction. Call us at 844-937-1810 to get started.