AN UPDATED Australian Practice standard in pain management for pharmacy services has been released by the Society of Hospital Pharmacists of Australia (SHPA).
It details current best practice for the provision of pain management services, including analgesic stewardship services.
The Standard of practice in pain management for pharmacy services is now available in the Feb issue of SHPA's flagship Journal of Pharmacy Practice and Research (JPPR).
The Standard should be read in conjunction with the SHPA Standards of practice for clinical pharmacy services and other relevant standards.
These include the Standard of practice in dispensing and distribution for pharmacy services, as well as the Standard of practice in mental health for pharmacy services.
Lead author and former Chair of the Pain Management Leadership Committee Shania Liu said the updated Standard shows how best practice pain management is achieved through an interdisciplinary, collaborative, person-centred approach where pharmacists leverage their skills.
"Evidence shows that pharmacist involvement in pain management multidisciplinary teams, including pharmacist-led clinics for persistent pain, reduces adverse events, improves patient satisfaction, and lessens pain intensity.
"Further, improving physical functioning and reducing the need for secondary healthcare."
The pain management pharmacist also helps to reduce the prescribing of opioids at discharge and improve opioid de-escalation plans, she said.
The Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists and Faculty of Pain Medicine; Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care; Clinical Excellence Commission; Safer Care Victoria; and the Australian Pain Society all contributed to the Standard. JG
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