Welcome to the Chronic Pain Review Website

Introduction

The Department of Human Services has initiated a review of chronic pain management services as part of its work in developing Sub-acute Ambulatory Care Services (SACS).

The following issues will be considered during the review:

• Identification of the target population(s) and objectives for SACS funded chronic pain management services.

• Map the current service system for provision of chronic pain management services across the care continuum including identification of funding stream and referral pathways.

• Identification of key service system linkages for pain management services including rural and metropolitan pain services, acute pain services, general practitioners, palliative care services, HARP-CDM, SACS services, VACS, drug and alcohol services and other relevant community-based services.

• Review existing evidence based model(s) of care for delivery of chronic pain management services including range of services/programs to be provided.   This will also include consideration of workforce and training requirements for chronic pain management services.

• Review evidence based referral pathways for acute pain interventions such as implantable devices

• Undertake a gap analysis of current pain management services against the proposed model(s) of care to identify opportunities for improvement.

• Undertake an analysis of current levels of service provision and identify gaps in access to chronic pain management services.  This will include Identification of funding requirements to meet current and any proposed expansion of SACS funded pain management services.

• Develop a strategy and recommendations that support the development of existing and future SACS pain management services in line with the agreed model(s) of care and based on the sub-acute services planning framework.

• Develop an evaluation strategy to facilitate a review of the model(s) against agreed objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs).