Welcome to the Chronic Pain Program

WELCOME TO THE SANTA ROSA CHRONIC PAIN PROGRAM

The Chronic Pain Management Program is a multidisciplinary program developed to help those patients who suffer from chronic pain. The goal of the Chronic Pain team is to teach self-care tools to alleviate suffering, enhance quality of life and promote healing through an integrated wellness model.

The Chronic Pain clinic is staffed by physicians, care managers, nurses, clinical psychologists, physical therapists and acupuncturists.

HOW TO BECOME A PATIENT

All patients must be referred by a physician or other provider. Patients must have a primary care physician at the Kaiser Santa Rosa Center. Your primary care physician will remain responsible for your general medical care.

EVALUATION PROCESS

The evaluation process begins with your attendance at the 2-hour Chronic Pain Overview session. During this session, you will be introduced to the concepts and techniques used in the Chronic Pain Program.

After the Overview, an individualized treatment plan, developed by our Chronic Pain Team, will be mailed to you.

You will be assigned a care manager, who will coordinate your care, schedule your visits and address your questions and concerns

CLASSES/GROUPS

The core of our program is our group of Chronic Pain Management Classes. These classes teach skills development in the areas of stress management, pacing, interpersonal communication, nutrition, sleep, exercise and relaxation.

PHYSICAL THERAPY

A key component in successfully managing chronic pain is regular exercise. Our exercise program includes stretching for flexibility, strengthening for general health and gentle aerobic exercise for conditioning.

Physical therapy can help improve your posture, movement and alignment and allow you to gradually increase your ability to perform normal, daily activities.

ACUPUNCTURE

Acupuncture is most effective when offered as part of a comprehensive pain management program. We offer an initial trial of six acupuncture treatments. Your acupuncturist will then assess if further treatment is warranted.

YOUR ROLE IN TREATMENT

In order to ensure that you receive maximum benefit from your experience in the Chronic Pain Program we ask that you participate actively:

• Take an active role in your treatment. Chronic pain affects your entire life. We ask that you commit the time and energy needed to follow through with the entire treatment plan.

• Ask questions and seek information if you are confused or don’t understand any part of your treatment plan.

• Try treatments you are not familiar with or which you may have tried previously but were not then part of a comprehensive program. Please keep an open mind about these treatments and activities. Plan to participate in the entire recommended treatment plan.

MEDICATIONS

Refill requests should be called in at least 4 business days before you will be out of medicine. You can leave a message on the clinic voice mail at (707) 571-3937. Please follow the voice mail directions

There will be no refills of medications after hours (evenings or weekends). It is your responsibility to plan ahead so that medications do not run out after clinic hours.

Patients prescribed opiate medications may be asked to sign a contract specifying the medication, dose, and frequency.

COMPLETION OF TREATMENT

Completion of treatment in the Chronic Pain Clinic is different for each patient. Some patients may require only a few visits for evaluation and specific treatment. Others may have a more complex treatment plan that entails involvement with the program for up to 12 months.

When your treatment goals are met, your formal treatment in the Chronic Pain Program ends. But, we recommend that you attend the Alumni Support Group to help you maintain your progress.

“I still have pain, but I feel better.”

Find out more about the Department of Chronic Pain

Disclaimer
If you think you have a MEDICAL OR PSYCHIATRIC EMERGENCY, CALL 911 IMMEDIATELY or go to the nearest hospital. DO NOT attempt to access emergency care through this web site. An emergency medical condition is a medical or psychiatric condition that manifests itself by acute symptoms of sufficient severity (including severe pain) such that you could reasonably expect the absence of immediate medical attention to result in any of the following: serious jeopardy to your health, serious impairment to your bodily functions, or serious dysfunction of any bodily organ or part. An emergency medical condition is also "active labor," which means a labor when there is inadequate time for safe transfer to a Plan hospital (or designated hospital) before delivery or if a transfer poses a threat to the health of the member or unborn child.

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