title: Documentation and potential tools in long-term opioid therapy for pain.
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 re discussed that will aid clinicians in providing evidence for the continuation of this type of treatment for their patients.
authors.affiliation: Albany Medical College, Department of Anesthesiology, 47 New Scotland Avenue, MC-131 Albany, New York 12208, USA. SmithH@mail.amc.edu
authors.forename: Howard S
authors.initials: HS
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Kenneth L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Kirsh
mesh_terms: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D002908:Chronic Disease; D004282:Documentation; D004335:Drug and Narcotic Control; D006801:Humans; D008499:Medical Records; D010146:Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000503:physiopathology; D010147:Pain Measurement; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000295:instrumentation*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D000701:Analgesics, Opioid