Pain Management Part 3: The Thorough Pain Assessment

Presented by Cathleen Armato

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Video Runtime: 20 Minutes, Learning Assessments: 23 Minutes

Many clinicians rely on a one-dimensional pain assessment. While there may be times where this is appropriate, more frequently this type of assessment can lead to improper pain treatments and lack of pain relief for the patient.

This course examines the rationale and provides evidence-based tools for a complete thorough pain assessment. Using this information, clinicians can increase their professionalism and clinical proficiency, and work toward better outcomes for their patients.

This course is appropriate for any healthcare provider or interdisciplinary team member dealing with patients in pain.

Meet your instructor

Cathleen Armato

Cathleen Armato is an experienced executive with 22 years in the home care and hospice industry. She has served in various roles during that time, including VP of operations and chief compliance officer for a nationwide healthcare provider. In 2012, Cat became a consultant. Since that time, she has assisted multiple…

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Chapters & learning objectives

A Number Is Not Enough

1. A Number Is Not Enough

This chapter reviews the patient’s unique experience of pain and how an understanding of this experience supports better outcomes. We will review evidence-based unidimensional and multidimensional tools for pain assessment to assist the clinician in selecting the right tool for the situation.

Elements of a Complete Pain Assessment

2. Elements of a Complete Pain Assessment

Using an example of an evidence-based tool, this chapter will review eight important assessment elements. We will also review the physical portion of the pain assessment and discuss appropriate patient-centered care plan goals.

Tools for Assessing Patients Unable to Communicate Their Pain Effectively

3. Tools for Assessing Patients Unable to Communicate Their Pain Effectively

This chapter examines pain assessments for individuals who are impaired or otherwise unable to communicate their pain effectively. Again, evidence-based tools will be reviewed for these situations.