title: Managing pain with algorithms: an opportunity for improvement? Or: the development and utilization of algorithms to manage acute pain.
abstract: Pain management in a hospital setting remains a challenge today. Many health care providers remain anxious and uninformed regarding analgesic titration within a hospital setting. Overcoming the potential risks to obtain the benefits of opiate titration is a challenge within any health care setting. Virginia Commonwealth University, a tertiary medical center which houses schools of medicine, nursing, and pharmacy, evaluated the use of algorithms for managing acute pain. This article describes the Pain Committee's efforts and offers one potential intervention for safe analgesic opioid titration, an algorithm for acute pain management.
authors: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia. Electronic address: user479069@aol.com.
authors: Patrick
authors: P
authors: Coyne
authors: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors: Laurie
authors: L
authors: Lyckholm
authors: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors: Barton
authors: B
authors: Bobb
authors: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors: Donna
authors: D
authors: Blaney-Brouse
authors: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors: Sarah
authors: S
authors: Harrington
authors: Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, Virginia.
authors: Leanne
authors: L
authors: Yanni
mesh_terms: D059787:Acute Pain / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000451:nursing*; D000328:Adult; D000465:Algorithms; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006784:Hospitals, Teaching; D006801:Humans; D016134:Organizational Policy; D010043:Outcome and Process Assessment, Health Care; D059408:Pain Management / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards*; D061214:Patient Safety / Q000592:standards; D058996:Quality Improvement
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D000701:Analgesics, Opioid