PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Like it or not pain is the common variable, in most medical disciplines. Pain is the number one reason patients seek access to health care.

In the 1980s and 1990s we witnessed a strong trend towards putting many types of pain management under one roof. This was often good for patients and aided in communication among health care professionals. It also made it easier for providers to remain knowledgeable and keep abreast of advances in disciplines other than their own.

Recently the ‘multidisciplinary’ approach is less prevalent due to reimbursement pressures by insurance companies. This means, more often different specialties that routinely treat pain, find themselves working alone. We are losing contact with our brothers and sisters in pain management.

One of the primary purposes of the Kentucky Pain Society is to facilitate networking among all types of pain practitioners. It would be a disservice to our patients if we didn’t know what other providers have to offer.

Our own specialty isn’t always enough. It is obvious, that in so many cases, working together as a team gives superior results.

This is the theme of our next annual meeting in November 2008. We are bringing together the most common types of practices that deal with pain on a day to day basis.

These include Interventional Pain physicians, Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, Primary Care physicians, Psychologists/Psychiatrists, Rheumatologists, Oncologists, Hospice specialists, Orofacial doctors, Physical Therapists, Chiropractors and Addictionologists.

If you would like to become involved or notice that I left out a key discipline email me at hansen5md@aol.com.

Another purpose of the KPS is to bring a strong unified voice when necessary to legislative/political/regulatory organizations and deal with reimbursement/access issues. Partnering with other organizations who share similar concerns will be done whenever possible.

We have a great deal of pain relieving talent in Kentucky, from northern Kentucky to Paducah, with the University of Kentucky and Louisville in between.

A few years ago the vision of our first president, Ballard Wright, M.D., of Lexington, got us off to a great start. I look forward to working with our fine Board of Directors to help the KPS grow its membership, facilitate networking and interdisciplinary education. In 2009 I would like to bring more awareness to patients and the public through the media and certain events.

Kendall E. Hansen, M.D.