title: The evolution and practice of acute pain medicine.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  In recent years, the field of acute pain medicine (APM) has witnessed a surge in its development, and pain has begun to be recognized not merely as a symptom, but as an actual disease process. This development warrants increased education of residents both in the performance of regional anesthesia as well as in the disease course of acute pain and the biopsychosocial mechanisms that define interindividual variability.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We reviewed the organization and function of the modern APM program. Following a discussion of the nomenclature of acute pain-related practices, we discuss the historical evolution and modern role of APM teams, including the use of traditional, as well as complementary and alternative, therapies for treating acute pain. Staffing and equipment requirements are also evaluated, in addition to the training requirements for achieving expertise in APM. Lastly, we briefly explore future considerations related to the essential role and development of APM.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The scope and practice of APM must be expanded to include pre-pain/pre-intervention risk stratification and extended through the phase of subacute pain.
authors.affiliation: Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland, USA.
authors.forename: Justin
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Upp
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kent
authors.forename: Patrick J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tighe
mesh_terms: D059787:Acute Pain / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D010147:Pain Measurement / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends*; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians' / Q000639:trends*