CHAPTER 68 PAIN MANAGEMENT IN THE ED: THE PEMI STUDY

Pain the Emergency Department: Results of the Pain and Emergency Medicine Initiative (PEMI) Multicenter Study

Todd KH, Ducharme J, Choiniere M, et al. J Pain. 2007;8(6):460–466

BACKGROUND

Pain is the most common reason for presentation to an ED in the United States. Standardized pain assessment and reassessment along with education of patients regarding pain management are considered standard of care by the Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) statement of 2001. Despite this, at the time of this study it was not known whether these protocols were being applied and there was a concern that these simple interventions were not being done.

OBJECTIVES

To access the degree of compliance with the JCAHO recommendations regarding the assessment and reassessment of patients presenting to the ED with pain.

METHODS

Prospective, observational study conducted at 20 centers across the US and Canada.

Patients

Eight hundred and forty-two patients, 8 to 91 years old who presented across a convenience sample of three different 8-hour shifts with pain >3 on a 10-point scale. Select exclusion criteria: Patients who were intoxicated, altered, or if there was concern for cardiogenic chest pain.

Related posts:

Oral vs. IV Rehydration Spontaneous Ureteral Stone Passage Heparinizing Unstable Angina Amiodarone in Ventricular Fibrillation Bicarbonate Therapy in DKA CT Before Lumbar Puncture in Meningitis

Stay updated, free articles. Join our Telegram channel

Join