For example, combine regional tech-
way in determining the size of a hospital's
niques with general anesthesia to get the
value-based purchasing payment. How
benefits of both. Put the newer IV non-nar-
well you manage post-op pain will also
cotic analgesics — wonderful drugs with
shed light on your facility's level of effi-
no side effects, says Dr. Stanfield — to
ciency. Do it well and reap the rewards of
work for you. Intrathecal buprenorphine,
earlier mobilization, shortened stays and
for example, provides prolonged (up to 30
reduced costs. Let pain get the upper hand
hours) pain control without the side
and dissatisfied patients will be the least of
effects (respiratory depression and itch-
your worries.
"Fear of post-operative pain is a major
ing) of morphine for knee and shoulder
replacement patients. "A knowledge of
pharmacology leads to improved choices
very little excuse for a patient waking up
patient pain management, multimodal pro-
in pain. I always ask patients in PACU,
grams offer great efficacy with improved
'Did we hurt you? Is there anything we can
safety."
do to make you feel better?'"
'Was your pain
always well-controlled?'
Waking up pain-free
Of the 20 different quality measures that
providers, Paul D. Rose, MD, of Legacy
hospitals will be rated on as part of the
Emanuel Medical Center in Portland, Ore.,
government's effort at paying for perform-
has turned to an opioid-sparing multi-
ance, none might matter more to patients
modal approach to analgesia in his fight
than pain management. Answers to "Was
against minimizing his patients' post-oper-
your pain always well-controlled?" on
ative pain and maximizing his hospital's
patient satisfaction surveys will go a long
O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E | J A N U A R Y 2013
gical services," says Dr. Stanfield. "There's
increased attention in recent years to
TO
increased patient satisfaction with our sur-
says Dr. Stanfield. "With appropriately
SUPPLEMENT
modal programs contribute greatly to
and extremely high patient satisfaction,"
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issue for many patients and our multi-
patient satisfaction ratings.
Like a growing number of anesthesia
J A N U A R Y 2013 | S U P P L E M E N T
TO
O U T PAT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E
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