JOINT BASE ANDREWS, Md. –
Pain is the number one reason for a doctor’s visit in the United States. Over 50 million people suffer from chronic pain and 100 Billion dollars is spent on treating chronic pain every year.
Tele-Pain is a program developed by the National Capital Region Pain Initiative and Wounded Warrior Pain Care Initiative that uses video tele conferencing (VTC) to bring together providers from different medical specialties and military services to help treat wounded warriors and military beneficiaries with their chronic pain issues. Patients receive top quality, “red carpet” pain management services without having to travel long distances for care.
Tele-Pain providers focus on resolving pain concerns from a holistic perspective, using behavioral health psychology and integrative medicine services which include meditation, Reiki, electrical and alpha stimulation. The following three services are provided:
Basic Tele-Pain Services: Medication management and evaluation for complex or difficult pain patients. Patients may be fast tracked for indicated procedures, if necessary.
Pain psychology consults: This service helps patients learn to cope with the thoughts, feelings and behaviors that accompany chronic pain and educates patients about pain.
Integrative Services: Provides basic education about pain and conditions that affect pain such as: sleep hygiene, life balance and satisfaction, breathing /relaxation techniques, chair yoga, mindfulness, reiki, nutrition, weight management, emotional & spiritual wellbeing.
During the initial Tele-Pain visit, the patient meets with a Registered Nurse, at a location close to their home and is connected to the Tele-Pain office at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center (WRNMMC), by a VTC monitor. A Physician Assistant, with a specialty in pain management, will assess the patient and determine the most appropriate type of care indicated and refer the patient to one of four pain management providers, in the fields of Behavioral Health Psychology and Integrative Medicine. The patient will then discuss their pain concerns with the selected providers who will, in turn, recommend suggested treatment options. Integrative medicine services are done in-person at WRNMMC.
Tele-Pain services are available to active duty members, their spouses and adult children, with a referral from their primary care manager. Appointments are available at the following outreach locations, on weekdays:
Monday - Pentagon DiLorenzo Clinic
Tuesday - Malcolm Grow Medical Clinics and Surgery Center Acupuncture Clinic
Wednesday - Fort Belvoir Community Hospital Warrior Pavilion
Friday - Naval Health Clinic Quantico
“Tele-pain management provides access to world class treatment and improved quality of care. Patients have indicated a 63% improvement in their pain symptoms with this program. 96% have stated it resulted in less treatment time and 86% said they would recommend the program to others,” said Ms. Erica Wigley, WRNMMC, Registered Nurse.
Tele-Pain is a safe and cost-effective way to extend the delivery of health care. It is guided by clinical practice guidelines and backed by decades of research. Patients can receive top quality pain management service, at locations close to where they work and/or live, without having to travel to WRNMMC. Patients with unresolved pain issues should talk to their primary care manager about the Tele-Pain program.