Implementing Population Medicine in a Pain Management Practice.

PURPOSE: To document and improve the quality of our chronic pain management using population management methods.

METHODS: An analytic registry was developed, and all new patients were enrolled for 12 months. Patient demographics, standardized pain and function measures, and treatments were recorded. Usual care was provided. The registry was used to organize care and analyze management and outcomes.

RESULTS: Of 454 total patients, only 154 (34%) completed a 6-month cycle of care. High no-show rates were documented for follow-up appointments for several reasons. The majority of 6-month completers showed improved pain levels.

DISCUSSION: This quality improvement project identified assessment and care gaps and led to improvements. An ongoing need to improve measures of pain and function was documented.