Implementation of the veterans health administration national pain management strategy.
Since its introduction in 1998, the VHA National Pain Management Strategy has introduced and implemented a series of plans for promoting systems improvements in pain care. We present the milestones of VHA efforts in pain management as reflected by the work of the Strategy. This includes the development of the Strategy and its current structure as well as a review of important initiatives such as "pain as the fifth vital sign" and the stepped care model of pain management.
PRIME Center/11ACSLG, VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT 06516 USA ; Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510 USA.
Robert D
RD
Kerns
Errol J
EJ
Philip
Allison W
AW
Lee
Patricia H
PH
Rosenberger
Pain; Pain management; Primary care; Veterans