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Create a practical policy that meets standard 9.J

Ambulatory Safety Monitor, September 7, 2006

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Standard 9.J in the Anesthesia Services chapter of the 2006 Accreditation Handbook for Ambulatory Health Care states, "The organization maintains a written policy with regard to assessment and management of acute pain." Some facilities create a policy that can meet this standard, but that doesn't mean that it can truly help staff gauge and alleviate patients' pain.

To create a policy that meets standard 9.J but is also practical, try the following:

• Ask patients about the pain. Find out the site, the type (burning, shooting, etc.), and the frequency (acute vs. chronic).
• Create a pain assessment sheet with a grade scale to improve consistency. This format will allow your staff to gauge and record patient pain using a standard set of descriptors.
• Determine what actions your staff should take in response to various degrees of pain or changes in pain levels. Although the level of pain that a patient experiences is subjective, your policy can at least outline what action staff should take when a patient indicates a certain level of pain.
• Track patient response to the relief efforts. You can track the effectiveness of the treatment, as well as record any potentially adverse reactions to medications.

This tip was adapted from Briefings on Ambulatory Accreditation, a monthly publication that reports on the activities of ambulatory care accreditors the JCAHO and the AAAHC. Click here for more information or to subscribe.

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