In 2021, the Pain Assessment and Management Initiative (PAMI) at the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville, Department of Emergency Medicine launched a novel pain coach educator model to enhance patient education on nonopioid pain management options. The program has since expanded from the ED to inpatient and outpatient settings and can be completed in person or remotely via telephone or internet. This is the first known ED pain coach educator program in the US.

A free, downloadable Pain Coach and Toolkit Guide is now available and provides comprehensive resources for institutions who want to develop a pain coach education program. Materials are appropriate for acute and chronic pain conditions, older children, adolescents, and adults.

The guide contains:

-the rationale for developing a pain coach education model

-information on integrative pain management tools and resources such as aromatherapy, virtual reality, pain journaling, OTC oral and topical medications, acupressure, etc.

-pain neuroscience analogies for patients

-suggested data collection and evaluation tools

-a list of helpful websites, literature, books, videos, and other resources.

Patients are surveyed one month post pain coach visit for feedback and to determine if they are still using PAMI toolkits items. Patient and staff feedback, utilization and satisfaction have been overwhelmingly positive. Many patients now request to see the “pain coach” when they arrive in the ED or are admitted to the hospital.

The Pain Coach and Toolkit Guide and PAMI resources can be adapted for use in your institution by including the phrase: “Used with permission from the UF College of Medicine – Jacksonville PAMI. Learn more at pami.emergency.med.jax.ufl.edu.”

To contact PAMI, email pami@jax.ufl.edu or call us at (904) 244-4986. Stay connected with us on Facebook and LinkedIn for our latest updates.

Written by Phyllis Hendry, MD, FAAP, FACEP, Sophia Sheikh, MD, FACEP and the PAMI Team