Task force issues final report on pain management best practices

The federal Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force has released its final report on pain management best practices. The report, which was prepared in response to the opioid epidemic, emphasizes safe opioid stewardship and looks at a wide range of pain treatment methods in addition to medication and interventional approaches. There is a no one-size-fits-all approach when treating and managing patients with painful conditions,” said Vanila M. Singh, M.D., MACM, who chaired the task force that drafted the report. “Individuals who live with pain are suffering and need compassionate, individualized and effective approaches to improving pain and clinical outcomes. This report is a roadmap that is desperately needed to treat our nation’s pain crisis.” Singh is chief medical officer of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health. (HHS news release, 5/30/19)