Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine >> Patient Care >> Pain Medicine >> Acute Pain Service at UW Medical Center

UW Pain Medicine Patient Care:
UW Medical Center
Perioperative Pain Clinic

Summary of Services

Pain continues to be a feared complication following surgical and other procedures. Inadequate pain management in surgical settings can result in slower recovery, greater morbidity, prolonged lengths of stay, lower patient satisfaction, higher health care costs, and long-term pain management issues. Comprehensive pain management for patients undergoing surgical and other procedures requires a coordinated interdisciplinary approach that emphasizes continuity of care throughout the surgical experience. In addition, specialized pain management may also be required for patients with complex pain needs such as those patients with chronic pain, opioid tolerance, prior unsatisfactory perioperative pain management experiences, and those who require ongoing pain management after their surgical experience.

About the Clinic

The Perioperative Pain Clinic is scheduled to open first quarter of 2012.

The Perioperative Pain Clinic will be based in the Surgical Specialties Clinic in the Surgical Pavilion at UWMC. The clinic will be open Monday through Friday and is to be staffed by a nurse clinical coordinator, clinical pharmacist, nurse practitioner/PA-C, and attending physician. The clinic will see patients with complex pain management needs prior to surgery and establishes a comprehensive pain care plan for the planned surgical procedure. After surgery, patients will be managed for the duration of pain associated with that surgical procedure and further care coordinated with the patients' managing Primary Care Provider.