SYDNEY, Australia, Aug. 22 /PRNewswire/ -- The Chronic Pain Network(TM) (CPN) was launched today at the International Association for the Study of Pain's 11th World Congress on Pain by co-sponsors Organon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., and Ligand Pharmaceuticals Inc. CPN is the only comprehensive, integrated and aligned national pain management education program developed by clinicians for clinicians that provides a singular resource for practitioners and patients to support appropriate patient pain assessment, treatment, and balanced risk management of chronic pain.
According to the American Pain Foundation, more than 50 million Americans live with chronic pain. While pain is the number one reason that people seek medical care,(1) many general practitioners currently do not have the resources to effectively treat patients in this arena. The Chronic Pain Network provides healthcare professionals an array of tools and resources to address their patients' individual needs. One of the key components of the CPN is the Chronic Pain Management Resource System which includes a Clinical Resource Kit and a Regulatory Resource Kit. Clinicians can also access http://www.chronicpainnetwork.com to register for the program, and learn about CME programs on chronic pain and its management. All materials are developed and reviewed by a Chronic Pain Network Education Board of leaders in the pain management community.
The Clinical Resource Kit is a comprehensive, customizable patient assessment and pain management resource. This resource includes assessment and documentation forms and patient education forms.
The Regulatory Resource Kit provides an overview of regulatory requirements relevant to healthcare professionals who prescribe pain medication. The Regulatory Resource Kit is CME-accredited and works in tandem with the Clinical Resource Kit to support clinicians by providing easy access to information on the legal and regulatory guidelines surrounding pain management.
"Every person in pain has a unique background, history and set of circumstances that have led them to seek out help in managing their pain. The Chronic Pain Network enables healthcare providers to properly assess people in pain and help them work together as a team to provide the most appropriate regimen of care," said Richard Payne, MD, Chair of the CPN Education Board Past President, American Pain Society, Duke University Divinity School, Durham, NC.
CPN features additional tools, including a centralized and comprehensive home on the Web where members can easily access the latest information and resources on pain management. Patient education materials including a pain diary, frequently asked questions about sustained-release opioids and information on managing insomnia and side effects are also available. The network also offers CME accredited and non-CME educational events for continuous learning opportunities.
"The ultimate beneficiaries of the Chronic Pain Network are people who need help managing their pain, as they become active participants in their Pain Management Plan," said Bill McCarberg, MD, FABPM, Kaiser Permanente, member of the CPN Education Board. "The Network is a resource that helps all of the crucial elements come together in working toward helping healthcare providers help their patients -- one unique case at a time."
The CPN Education Board is comprised of esteemed physicians, allied healthcare professionals and advocacy leaders in the pain management community:
-- Richard Payne, MD, Duke University Divinity School, Durham, NC -- Jennifer Bolen, JD, J. Bolen Group, LLC, Knoxville, TN -- David Brushwood, JD, RPh, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL -- Penney Cowan, American Chronic Pain Association, Rocklin, CA -- June L. Dahl, PhD, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, WI -- LD Buck Hartford, PA, Peninsula Pain Clinic, PLLC, Bremerton, WA -- Howard A. Heit, MD. FACP, FASAM, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC -- Bill McCarberg, MD, FABPM, Kaiser Permanente, San Diego, CA -- Mary L. McPherson, PharmD, BCPS, CDE, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD -- Christine Miaskowski, RN, PhD, FAAN, UCSF School of Nursing, San Francisco, CA -- Seddon R. Savage, MS, MD, Dartmouth Medical School, Hanover, NH
For more information, please visit the CPN website, http://www.chronicpainnetwork.com .
Organon and Ligand co-market the pain medication AVINZA(R) (oral morphine sulfate extended-release capsules) which is the first true once-a-day treatment for chronic moderate-to-severe pain in patients who require continuous, around-the-clock opioid therapy for an extended period of time. Approved by the FDA in March 2002, AVINZA consists of two components: an immediate-release component that rapidly achieves plateau morphine concentrations in plasma, and an extended-release component that maintains plasma concentrations throughout a 24-hour dosing interval.
Organon, with shared head offices in Roseland, NJ, USA and Oss, The Netherlands, creates, manufactures, and markets prescription medicines that improve the health and quality of human life. Through a combination of independent growth and business partnerships, Organon strives to remain or become one of the leading pharmaceutical companies in each of its core therapeutic fields: anesthesia, reproductive medicine, and psychiatry. Organon products are sold in over 100 countries, of which more than 60 have an Organon subsidiary. Organon is the human health care business unit of Akzo Nobel. For more information about Organon and its brands, please go to: http://www.organonusa.com .
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* Pursuant to the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act 1995. (1) National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases NIH Guide: "New Directions in Pain Research," NIH Web site. Available at: http://www.niams.nih.gov/rtac/funding/grants/pa/pa_98_102.pdf .
Organon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc.CONTACT: Fran DeSena of Organon Pharmaceuticals USA Inc., +1-973-325-4500
