Vim & Vigor - Winter 2017 - Community Healthcare - 8

the history and physical exam, not
just imaging and labs, to identify
what we are specifically treating."
Once admitted to the hospital for
a surgical procedure or treatment
of a medical condition, anesthesiologists, nurses, rehabilitation
specialists, physical therapists and
pharmacists work together to provide the best multimodal approach
for each patient. A multimodal
approach can include nerve blocks
to get patients through initial
postoperative pain and non-narcotic
drugs such as gabapentin or Lyrica to
ease nerve pain. Then there is good
old acetaminophen.
"Our hospitals have the IV version
of acetaminophen on the formulary,"
says pharmacist Bhavik Nana. "This is
the IV version of Tylenol that is used
as part of multimodal pain management and has been shown to reduce the
overall opioid needs of patients postoperatively. Pharmacists are working
on an initiative with our anesthesiologists to develop an acute pain order set
or predefined template utilized in the
standard care to help prescribers better
choose appropriate pain management
techniques/medications, including nondrug-related therapies (heat, cold, sleep
or physical therapy)."

Community Healthcare System
hospitals and outpatient centers offer
numerous interventions, injections and
minimally invasive procedures that can
benefit patient healing and recovery in
conjunction with nonopioid medications
and physical therapy.
"With physical therapy, we have relief
modalities that can address pain without medication," says John Doherty,
vice president Therapy Services, Sports
Medicine and Occupational Health
for Community Healthcare System.
"Sometimes something as simple as
active range of motion exercise will
relieve pain, and so will various electrical simulation modalities, cold packs,
hot packs, other heat modalities and

WEBSITE

For more information about physical therapy and pain management at
the hospitals of Community Healthcare System, visit comhs.org.

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PHOTO BY GETTY

Let Us Ease Your Pain

whirlpools. There are a number of tools
available to physical and occupational
therapists to relieve pain without any
medication at all."
"When physical therapy or occupational therapy relieves pain and it is
proven to do so, you have happy patients
who didn't have to rely on medication,"
Doherty says.
"I was so glad that Dr. Ibrahim understood that I didn't want to take any
pills," Dillon says. "I've learned that
what it comes down to is that you have
to keep moving. Physical therapy plus
steroid shots have worked for me. I'm
an active person and am happy getting
back to doing the things that I love to do
again without pain."
The key is restoration of function,
says Doherty. Each individual needs an
evaluation and assessment for his or her
unique needs, which is done after referral by a physician to physical therapy.
Your healthcare team at the hospitals of Community Healthcare System
considers pain management the key not
only to your recovery, but also to your
overall positive experience. ■
http://www.comhs.org
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