Integrating care for chronic pain patients.
Problems in the treatment of the chronic pain patient in a staff model HMO often lead to ineffective and expensive care. The authors support a multimodal approach, which includes medical, psychosocial, and behavioral elements. This treatment is offered in an individualized, integrated, and episodic fashion, which is particularly relevant to the multiple and extended needs of the chronic pain patient. Two cases are presented to illustrate the approach.
Fitzpatrick
R J
RJ
Harvard Community Health Plan, Peabody, MA 01960.
Kempler
H L
HL
D000328:Adult; D002908:Chronic Disease; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003363:Cost Control; D005260:Female; D005568:Forms and Records Control; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations / Q000191:economics*; D006801:Humans; D008404:Massachusetts; D008875:Middle Aged; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000628:therapy*; D010348:Patient Care Team