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The Case for Pain Medicine

  1. Scott M. Fishman MD1,*,
  2. Rollin M. Gallagher MD, MPH2,
  3. Daniel B. Carr MD3,
  4. Louis W. Sullivan MD4

Article first published online: 8 SEP 2004

DOI: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2004.04050.x

Issue

Pain Medicine

Pain Medicine

Volume 5, Issue 3, pages 281–286, September 2004

Additional Information

How to Cite

Fishman, S. M., Gallagher, R. M., Carr, D. B. and Sullivan, L. W. (2004), The Case for Pain Medicine. Pain Medicine, 5: 281–286. doi: 10.1111/j.1526-4637.2004.04050.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology & Pain Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, California;

  2. 2

    Pain Medicine Service, Department of Anesthesia, Philadelphia VA Medical Center and Departments of Psychiatry and Anesthesiology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania;

  3. 3

    Departments of Anesthesiology and Internal Medicine, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts;

  4. 4

    Office of the President Emeritus, Morehouse College School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia

*Scott M. Fishman, MD, Professor and Chief, Division of Pain Medicine, Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of California, Davis School of Medicine, 4860 Y Street, Suite 3200, Sacramento, CA 95817. Tel: (916) 734-6824; Fax: (916) 734-6827; E-mail: smfishman@ucdavis.edu.

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 8 SEP 2004
  2. Article first published online: 8 SEP 2004

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Keywords:

  • Pain Medicine;
  • Specialty;
  • Primary Specialty;
  • Classification

ABSTRACT

Pain Medicine has its roots in multiple primary specialties and has developed into a discrete specialty with disparate practice styles. Its identity is in flux and is threatened by forces that may fragment this new field before it can set firm roots. The public health crisis of under treated pain parallels medicine's struggle to adequately classify Pain Medicine as a specialty. We review the case for Pain Medicine as a discrete discipline, with specialized knowledge, treatments, training and education. Without recognition of the specialty of Pain Medicine, and resolution of the fragmentation of the field throughout healthcare, medicine's approach to the current problem of under treated pain is likely to continue to be inadequate.

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