The opportunity to initiate pain research by investigation and clinical trials is highlighted in the standards as evidence for compliance. In the best of circumstances, pain management standards enlarge the focus of practicing anesthesiologists by enhancing our efforts as perioperative physicians and pain management consultants. New Risks Pain management standards do not address the issue of resources and utilization. In the worst case scenario, anesthesiologists might find the demands for consultations and management unrealistic and burdensome. Hospitals and clinics will need to devote resources to initiate or enhance analgesic management programs.
Effective analgesia is difficult to achieve in the entire hospital population.
The variability of patients responses to analgesics irrespective of the methods of drug delivery implies that effective analgesia is complicated and often associated with undesirable effects. Meeting the expectation of patients, their families and other health care professionals is often difficult. Maximizing analgesic efficacy requires a dedicated staff of health care professionals to continually assess and modify analgesic protocols so that effective analgesia can be delivered with minimal side effects. Developing strategies to monitor positive and negative outcomes that must occur when pain management is mandated extends beyond the scope of expertise of many anesthesiology departments. Clearly, pain management standards will require careful consideration by all concerned.