Gov. Rick Snyder issued a proclamation recognizing September as Pain Awareness Month to help improve awareness of the many pain management resources available and bring attention to the financial and personal costs related to chronic pain that impacts an estimated four million Michiganders.
“Michigan is on the ground floor with the goal to be first in all areas that provide real pain management and help for our citizens,” said Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) Chief Deputy Director Shelly Edgerton. “We have and will continue providing educational resources for health care professionals while helping to improve our citizen’s quality of life.”
LARA supports and encourages the implementation of the Michigan Advisory Committee on Pain and Symptom Management’s (ACPSM) Model Pain Curriculum, which covers a variety of treatment methods and is posted on LARA’s pain management website. The curriculum was developed by a multidisciplinary committee of health professionals for health professional students. For those health professionals who have graduated, the ACPSM developed a Pain Toolkit for Health Care Professionals, which is also available on the website.
LARA’s Bureau of Professional Licensing (BPL) pain management website at www.michigan.gov/pm is an excellent resource for information on pain management. Michiganders will find information on treatment options, end of life care, palliative care, state and national guidelines and recommendations, legislation, resources, data, and links to organizations with expertise in the area of pain and symptom management.
Health care professionals who are interested in learning more about how to appropriately, safely and effectively use prescription pain medications are encouraged to schedule and attend S.C.O.P.E. (Safe, Competent Opioid Prescribing Education) training. Information on S.C.O.P.E. is available on the pain management website.
LARA’s Pain Management and Palliative Care Program also supports the use of the Michigan’s Automated Prescription System (MAPS) at www.michigan.gov/mimapsinfo, MAPS is one of the many tools used to help prescribers and dispensers track controlled substances and pain medication prescribed to patients to help prevent over-prescribing or misuse of prescription drugs.
