Pain as a Vital Sign and the Opioid Epidemic

Year: 2017

Resolution Number: 48

Action Taken: Approved as Amended

Status: Complete

Author(s): Gunjan Malhotra, MD, Jamie Clark, Kaitlyn Dobesh, and Shannon Paquette

Sponsor: Gunjan Malhotra, MD

On behalf of: Wayne County Delegation

Committee: A (Medical Care Delivery)

Resolved Section(s):
RESOLVED: That MSMS recommend that "pain as the fifth vital sign" be removed from the clinical practice environment and patient satisfaction surveys and assessments regarding pain as it pertains to quality and payment metrics; and be it further RESOLVED: That MSMS adopt as policy and advocate the position that "pain as the fifth vital sign" be eliminated from professional standards and usage; and be it further RESOLVED: That MSMS support and emphasize multidisciplinary/multimodality physician-led care, insurance coverage for non-pharmacologic approaches to addressing pain, and evidence-based methods for addressing acute and chronic pain.

Fiscal Note: NULL

Resolution: View PDF for Pain as a Vital Sign and the Opioid Epidemic

For More Information, Contact:

Stacey Hettiger , Director
Health Care Delivery
517-336-5732
shettiger@msms.org