- Board of Registration of Physician Assistant
Issued on 5-23-19
MONICA BHAREL, MD, MPH
Commissioner
MARYLOU SUDDERS
Secretary
KARYN E. POLITO
Lieutenant Governor
CHARLES D. BAKER
Governor
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Executive Office of Health and Human Services
Department of Public Health
Bureau of Health Professions Licensure
Board of Registration of Physician Assistants
239 Causeway Street, Suite 500, Boston, MA 02114
Tel: (617) 973-0806
Fax: (617) 973-0980
TTY: (617) 973-0988
THE BOARD OF REGISTRATION OF PHYSICIAN ASSISTANTS
The Pain Management Best Practices Inter-Agency Task Force, a federal advisory committee established by the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act of 2016 (PDF), released its final report on acute and chronic pain management best practices (PDF) , calling for a balanced, individualized, patient-centered approach.
To ensure best practices for the treatment of pain, the Task Force final report underscores the need to address stigma, risk assessment, access to care and education. It also highlights five broad categories for pain treatment: medications, interventional procedures, restorative therapies, behavioral health, and complementary and integrative health approaches.
The report emphasizes safe opioid stewardship by recommending more time for history-taking, screening tools, lab tests, and clinician time with patients to establish a therapeutic alliance and to set clear goals for improved functionality, quality of life, and activities of daily living. Medication disposal and safe medication storage are also emphasized for patient safety.