Task Forces: Pain as a Fifth Vital Sign
The Representatives
Individuals from Missoula's clinical settings, the University of Montana School of Pharmacy and Department of Physical Therapy, and Montana State University College of Nursing
The Focus
Focused on three target audiences: professional health-care providers, health-care institutions and the lay public, to research these audiences in year one, conduct education efforts in year two and assess effects of the education in year three.
The Result
- Survey tools
- A community-wide standard of care based on the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research (AHCPR) guidelines was adopted.
- The Wisconsin Resource Manual for Improvement publication, “Building an Institutional Commitment to Pain Management,” was adopted in Missoula-area long-term care facilities.
- Recommendation to clinicians that they use a 0-to-10 pain rating scale when monitoring pain as the fifth vital sign.
- Two pain rating scale tools, one for health care professionals and the other for patients.
- JCAHO commendations on pain management for both local hospitals.