PAIN MANAGEMENT

Patient Rights

As a patient, you can expect:

• Information about pain and pain relief measures.
• A concerned staff committed to pain prevention.
• Health professionals who respond quickly to reports of pain.
• State-of-the-art pain management.
• To establish you personal pain goal.

 Patient Responsibilities

 As a patient, we expect that you will: 

• Ask your doctor or nurse what to expect regarding pain and pain management.
• Discuss pain relief options with your doctor or nurse.
• Work with your doctor and nurse to develop a pain management plan.
• Ask for pain relief when pain first begins.
• Help the doctor and nurse measure your pain.
• Tell the doctor or nurse if your pain is not relieved.

 SPEAK UP

Speak up if you have questions or concerns, and if you don’t understand, ask again.  It’s your body and you have a right to know.

Pay attention to the care you are receiving.  Make sure you’re getting the right treatments and medications by the right health care professionals.  Don’t assume anything.

Educate yourself about your diagnosis, the medical tests you are undergoing, and your treatment plan.

Ask a trusted family member or friend to be your advocate.

Know what medications you take and why you take them.  Medication errors are the most common health care mistakes.

Use a hospital, clinic, surgery center, or other type of health care organization that has undergone a rigorous on-site evaluation against established, state-of-the-art quality and safety standards, such as that provided by JCAHO.

Participate in all decisions about your treatment.  You are the center of the health care team.