Revisions to The Joint Commission’s Provision of Care, Treatment, and Services standard PC.01.02.07, which addresses pain management, were effective Jan. 1.
Following an extensive literature review, The Joint Commission revised the rationale and added a note to element of performance (EP) 4. Clinical experts in pain management provided feedback on these revisions and guidance on the future direction of pain management. The experts affirmed that treatment strategies might consider “pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic approaches.” In addition, when considering the use of medications to treat pain, organizations should consider the benefits to the patient as well as the “risk of dependency, addiction, and abuse” of opioids.
Revisions will be included in the 2014 Update 2 for accreditation manuals.
