In 2005, the Maine Hospice Council received a grant from the American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives to continue its education of health care professionals about pain-related issues. Pain Management at the End of Life: A Physician’s Self-Study Packet is the result of a full-year’s work by the Maine Pain Initiative and many others who contributed to this project. This list includes representatives from the Board of Osteopathic Licensure, Board of Licensure in Medicine, Maine’s Office of the Attorney General, the American Cancer Society, and Muskie School of Public Service. This self-directed study packet has been approved for 3 Category One CME credits by the Maine Medical Education Trust, and 3 Category 2-B Enduring Material credits by the Maine Osteopathic Association. Substantial evidence indicates that pain at the end of life is a priority. At a “Listening Conference” in September 2004, co-sponsored by the Maine Hospice Council and the Maine Office of the Attorney General, participating consumers and health care professionals repeatedly identified a need for increased pain management education for health care professionals. Outcomes from reports such as the SUPPORT Study (JAMA, November 22/29, 1995, vol. 274, no. 20) focused on, among other things, the lack of pain education in medical and nursing schools. The recommendation was to enhance education for these two disciplines. Many physicians do not attend conferences or training seminars for a variety of reasons. However, many physicians have indicated interest in self-guided educational opportunities. With this in mind, the Maine Hospice Council in collaboration with the Muskie School of Public Service, University of Southern Maine, has developed a physician’s self-study packet concerning pain management at the end of life. We would like to thank the American Alliance of Cancer Pain Initiatives for granting us the funds to work on this packet. We hope that other Pain Initiatives will be encouraged by the potential to replicate this project in their own states. | 
Click here to have a CME approved copy mailed to you. Click here for a preview version of the packet. Click here for a copy of the Pain Management Pocket Guide. |
