The best outcomes are founded on the best evaluations. The assessment of patients with chronic pain is the most essential task in the care of patients. Too often, patients with chronic pain are simply prescribed a panoply of therapies with the prescriber hoping for some partial improvement. A comprehensive evaluation of all domains of the patient's life, illness, and prior treatments creates the potential for a patient-centered individualized formulation that will inform the treatment plan. Structured outlines and standardized questionnaires can be incorporated into the assessment to facilitate building trust in the provider-patient relationship. Communication between all parties offers the best source of information to fuel a complete assessment and subsequent treatment. In short, the better you know your patient, the more likely you can create a plan of care that restores their functioning and the potential for a satisfying life. This session will discuss all aspects of evaluation and communication between practitioner and patient.
.jpg "Michael R. Clark, MD, MPH, MBA photo")