IMPROVING HOSPITAL PAIN RELIEF  [ back to What's New ]
For years patient advocates have complained that hospitals under-medicate pain due to excessive fear of causing addiction. Commencing January 1, 2001 all hospitals and nursing homes must comply with new rules issued by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals requiring them to properly treat patients' pain. Should they fail to honor the right of each patient to have his pain properly assessed and treated, they can be sanctioned by JCAH. Pain assessment is to be done on a zero to 10 scale with 10 being the "worst pain imaginable." For TBI patients who suffered painful nerve damage or orthopedic injuries during the traumatic event, this is welcome news. Unrelieved pain is unpleasant, debilitating and blocks effective rehabilitation.