Pain management clinics face a complex set of challenges in managing patient expectations and delivering high-quality care. The opioid epidemic, increased reliance on chronic medications and the need for improved outcomes have added pressure to pain management practices. In response, a new generation of tools is emerging to help clinicians treat patients and deliver quality care remotely. These tools include telemedicine and remote patient monitoring technology, which are helping to improve patient access and care.
A specialized telemedicine (TH) service was launched in 2012 to bring super-specialized health care closer to patients. This system connected chronic pain patients and their local clinical teams with specialists in tertiary hospitals. It emphasized the importance of building strong patient-clinician relationships. It also emphasized the need to support and reinforce a patient-centered, interdisciplinary approach to pain treatment.
The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic www.isoclinic.com.au/ accelerated the introduction and integration of telemedicine in pain management. This was a result of urgent implementation recommendations by scientific pain societies. The first wave of hospital closures prompted an immediate need to safeguard continuity of care during the pandemic. It was crucial to safeguard ambulatory services and non-urgent in-hospital consultations, as well as enable compliance with social distancing protocols.
TH was used to replace follow-up ambulatory visits, as well as initial assessment for new pain patients. Patients were given the option of in-person or video call consultations. Initially, only half of the new patient assessments were done in-person, with the rest scheduled by phone or video call. This was quickly escalated to 100% telemedicine during the second pandemic wave.
While most patients surveyed preferred in-person visits, most reported positive experiences with telemedicine. They reported feeling more connected with their clinicians through telemedicine. They also viewed telemedicine as an effective tool for following up on symptoms, managing side effects and improving their quality of life.
The Pain Management Physicians industry is characterized by a low concentration of market share among the top four companies, with each generating less than 40% of the industry revenue. This is due to a wide variety of factors, including geographic footprint and the use of multiple communication technologies to reach patients.