ABSTRACT
Pain is the most common reason patients seek out healthcare professionals. The National Institutes of Health (NIH, 1987) published a consensus statement in 1987 that stressed the “caring” and “curing” role in pain management. Since that time, great strides have been made in the assessment and understanding of the multiple dimensions of pain. Advances have been made in both the pharmacologic and nonpharmacologic methods of treating pain. The number of multidisciplinary pain centers has grown rapidly. Comprehensive, holistic pain management using a multidisciplinary team of health professionals with an integrated approach has gained wide acceptance.
