KEY INITIATIVE:
PAIN AND PALLIATIVE CARE SERVICE

Organizational Priority #3

Demonstrate improvements in clinical and service quality resulting in satisfied customers.

Leader(s)

David Henderson, Laura Cearnal

Collaborators

Nursing, Anesthesia, Bioethics, Institutes

Description

In response to patient perceptions and an institutional needs assessment, the Clinical Center is developing a comprehensive multidisciplinary pain management and palliative care service to meet the treatment needs of Clinical Center patients. This service's nucleus will be composed of a physician expert(s), nurse practitioner(s), and pain and palliative care fellow(s). This core nucleus will collaborate closely with existing Clinical Center and Institute programs and staff.

Accomplishments-to-Date

• Convened a panel of national experts on pain management and palliative care to provide guidance in program design and implementation
• Designed a comprehensive, multidisciplinary framework for the service with input from key stakeholders
• Convened a search committee and are actively conducting an international search for the Chief of the service
• Identified a nurse practitioner to support the program

FY2000 Goals

• Hire Chief of service
• Hire professional and support staff
• Identify and secure resources required to support the program (e.g., FTE, space, equipment, supplies)
• Implement service