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| Pain Management
Education |
Patient Rights and Responsibilities For Pain Management
Medina Memorial Health Care System staff are committed to keeping patients as free from pain as possible. Part of the nurse assessment of patients upon admission to the hospital involves assessing any pain you may be having. That first assessment can help determine the most effective pain treatment for you. Your nurses will also reassess your pain levels regularly during your hospital stay.
Your rights and responsibilities for the management of your pain are outlined below.
Patient Rights
As a patient at Medina Memorial Health Care System, you can expect:
Information about pain and pain relief measures
• To have your pain management history taken
• To have pain assessed on an individual basis, using a scale where 0 equals no pain and 10 the worst pain
• A concerned staff committed to pain prevention and management
• To receive compassionate and sympathetic care
• Health professionals who respond quickly to reports of pain
• To have your pain questions answered freely
• To know what medications, treatment, or anesthesia will be given
• To know the risks, benefits and side effects of treatment
• To include family in decisions about pain management when appropriate
• State-of-the-art pain management
Patient Responsibilities
As a patient at this hospital, we expect that you will:
• Ask your doctor or nurse what to expect regarding pain and pain management
• Discuss pain relief options with your doctors and nurses
• Work with your doctor and nurse to develop a pain management plan
• Ask for pain relief when pain first begins
• Help your doctor and nurses assess your pain
• Tell your doctor or nurse if your pain is not relieved
• Tell your doctor or nurse about any worries you have about taking pain medication.
Treatment For Pain
While using pain relief medications is a common form of treatment for pain, many people can also benefit from other therapies. These alternative therapies, (for example, relaxation, deep breathing, distraction, and music therapy to name a few), have proven to help some people reduce their pain. You may find these techniques helpful to you. If you have questions about these alternative therapies, talk to your doctor or nurse.
Keeping Pain Under Control While In the Hospital
Keeping your pain under control is important to your well being. It will help you eat better, sleep better, move around more easily and visit with your family and friends.
Staff will be asking, on a routine basis, about your pain.
The nurses have been asked to give pain medicine as soon as possible after your request.
If your pain is not relieved by your medicine, or if you are having any side effects, please tell your doctor or nurse so that something can be done about it.
Alternative therapies such as relaxation exercises and music therapy may be of help to you. Ask your nurse about these.
Facts About Pain and Medication
Pain medications, when given with supervision, are safe and effective. Strong pain medications are rarely addictive when given in this manner.
Medications may be prescribed by your doctor that can help relieve any side effects.
It is understood that pain or discomfort may be intensified after operative procedures, during certain activity and during the healing process.
Taking pain medication prior to walking or exercising with Physical Therapy can make that activity more tolerable and perhaps speed your recovery.
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