The pain coach educator program is intended for patients age 14 years and older with acute or chronic pain. Patients with psychosis, suicidal or violent behavior, incarceration, severe uncontrolled pain prior to medication, restrained or immobilized, or critically ill were excluded from the program. Patients were referred to the program by physicians or advanced practice providers through an Electronic Health Record (EHR) paging system, phone call, or verbal request from other healthcare professionals (e.g., nurse, physical therapist, pharmacist). Program staff also monitored the EHR tracking board to identify eligible ED patients. The pain coach educator then reviewed the EHR to assess the patient’s relevant medical history to determine appropriateness for the program. When possible, the pain coach educator conferred with a member of the patient’s healthcare team prior to and following the pain coaching session.
Pain coach educator program components are described in detail in a publicly available toolkit on the PAMI website (26 ). Briefly, sessions consisted of 1) patient education on basic pain neuroscience and prevention of acute to chronic pain transitions, 2) demonstration of integrative pain management techniques, 3) a review of options to improve pain and quality of life, and 4) provision of nonpharmacologic toolkit items and educational brochures, and 5) a review of appropriate OTC and topical analgesic pain management options. The program was intended to be delivered in a single session; however, it was possible for patients to participate in the program during a later admission, ED visit, or via telephone upon patient request. Coaching sessions were tailored based on an initial assessment, type of pain, and patient characteristics and preferences. Patients were provided with a variety of toolkit item options and educational brochures. Brochures covered 17 topics including OTC oral and topical medications, sleep, diet, and back exercises. Toolkit items included aromatherapy inhalers, stress ball symbolizing a pain management analogy (27 ), hot/cold gel pack, virtual reality cardboard viewer with suggested free virtual reality apps, wearable acupressure device, pain journal, and a QR code to pain management videos on the PAMI website (25 ). The pain coach educator customized toolkits for each patient based on their pain assessment, contraindications, patient interest, and patient characteristics (e.g., smart phone access, comorbidities). If the pain coach educator was unavailable, clinical team members could provide patients with toolkit items by accessing a stocked cart located within the ED clinical areas.
Pain coach educator program components are described in detail in a publicly available toolkit on the PAMI website (26 ). Briefly, sessions consisted of 1) patient education on basic pain neuroscience and prevention of acute to chronic pain transitions, 2) demonstration of integrative pain management techniques, 3) a review of options to improve pain and quality of life, and 4) provision of nonpharmacologic toolkit items and educational brochures, and 5) a review of appropriate OTC and topical analgesic pain management options. The program was intended to be delivered in a single session; however, it was possible for patients to participate in the program during a later admission, ED visit, or via telephone upon patient request. Coaching sessions were tailored based on an initial assessment, type of pain, and patient characteristics and preferences. Patients were provided with a variety of toolkit item options and educational brochures. Brochures covered 17 topics including OTC oral and topical medications, sleep, diet, and back exercises. Toolkit items included aromatherapy inhalers, stress ball symbolizing a pain management analogy (27 ), hot/cold gel pack, virtual reality cardboard viewer with suggested free virtual reality apps, wearable acupressure device, pain journal, and a QR code to pain management videos on the PAMI website (25 ). The pain coach educator customized toolkits for each patient based on their pain assessment, contraindications, patient interest, and patient characteristics (e.g., smart phone access, comorbidities). If the pain coach educator was unavailable, clinical team members could provide patients with toolkit items by accessing a stocked cart located within the ED clinical areas.
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