title: Organization of hospital-based acute pain management programs.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The management of acute pain is an aspect of hospital-based practice that has been neglected. Control of pain is important for ethical reasons, for compliance with new guidelines and standards, and for optimizing patient satisfaction and outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  Be review the rationale for establishing priority to the control of acute pain, the importance of an institutional approach to improve pain management, and specific steps in the establishment and conduct of an acute pain program.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Improvement in pain control depends on an institutional approach to facilitate changes in attitude and prioritization. Pain management programs should provide for patient and staff education, adequate documentation of care, institutional standards for pain control, quality assurance/continuous quality improvement (CQI) activities, and periodic review of practice and policy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Effective pain management can set the stage for a rehabilitational approach to postoperative care, which should lead to earlier recovery and improved outcomes.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anesthesiology, School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 27599-7010, USA.
authors.forename: W S
authors.initials: WS
authors.lastname: Blau
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Dalton
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Lindley
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D006287:Health Planning Guidelines; D006292:Health Priorities; D006801:Humans; D007325:Institutional Practice; D059408:Pain Management; D010148:Intractable Pain / Q000628:therapy; D011182:Postoperative Care / Q000592:standards; D011787:Quality of Health Care / Q000592:standards; D014481:United States