ABSTRACT
Developing a multidisciplinary and/or interdisciplinary pain treatment program involves a thorough understanding of coordinating well-supported individual treatment approaches for chronic pain into an integrative program. This chapter discusses the “nuts and bolts” of the interdisciplinary pain program at the Rehabilitation Institute of Chicago’s Chronic Pain Care Center as an example of an interdisciplinary functional restoration program. It examines general program content, individual team member goals and responsibilities, concepts important to successful team building and communication, general financial aspects related to program survival and referral development, marketing and networking in the community. The interdisciplinary model involves ongoing communication between all members of the treatment team, helping to facilitate patient progress while they participate in the behavioral, cognitive, and active therapy treatments. Patients are discussed individually in a team-conference format on a weekly basis, enabling ongoing communication of progress and adjustment of treatment goals.
