Hot topic: new advances in pain management
The American Society of Interventional Pain Physicians ended its 2018 ASIPP 20th Annual Meeting on March 18. Physician Partners of America (PPOA) had a strong presence at the conference, which focused on the opioid crisis and new medical technology.
ASIPP has been the voice of interventional pain physicians since 1998. Conference co-chairs and guest speakers from around the country gathered at the world’s largest Marriott for three days of workshops at the Orlando World Center.
The conference theme of “Excellence in IPM: Education, Research, Advocacy” attracted more than 1,000 attendees. They were offered a choice of 75 educational lectures. The event was held in partnership with the Florida Society of Interventional Pain Physicians and the Society of Interventional Pain Management Surgery Centers.
PPOA President and COO Tracie Lawson, MBA, MSN, ARNP-C, and PPOA founder Rodolfo Gari, M.D., MBA answered in-depth questions from physicians. Attendees learned how the fast-growing national healthcare company can strengthen the doctor-patient relationship and manage medical practices. Chief Development Officer David Wood, Vice President of Sales and Operations – Ancillary Division Samantha Dangler, and Vice President of Business Development Chrissy Infinger were also on hand to answer questions at the PPOA booth.
Opioids: give patients what they need, not what they want
The most well-attended session of the ASIPP conference was “Best Practices in Pain Management in the Context of Addressing the Opioid Epidemic,” and it’s easy to see why. Opioid overdoses are now the leading cause of death in people under age 50, killing about 64,000 Americans in 2016. No fewer than six leading authorities addressed the topic. Anita Gupta, D.O., PharmD, reports that “opioids aren’t going away” and stressed the importance of a “holistic approach.”
Gupta continued: “What we do for a living is an art and requires a balanced approach. Pills kill. Pain doesn’t.” She offered the “SHARE” approach: seek patient’s participation, help patient explore and compare treatment options, access patient’s values and preferences, reach a decision with the patient, evaluating the patient’s decision.
ASIPP moderator Peter Staats, M.D., said pain physicians should always listen to the little voice in their heads that asks “is it worth the risk?” whenever prescribing. He added that “patients should be given what they need, not what they want.”
PPOA medical chief will host Florida opioid conference
Abraham Rivera, M.D., chief medical officer for PPOA, will continue the discussion at the Florida Academy of Pain Medicine Opioid Update Summit. It will take place in Clearwater, Fla on April 28. Dr. Rivera is an FAPM board member and the workshop coordinator. He will give the keynote lecture during the event. “This conference will change the behavior of those in attendance,” Rivera said. “Expert speakers will change the practice of the average physician who attend this event.”
