By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    7 Most Common Healthcare Accreditation Programs: Which Should You Use?
    August 20, 2025
    Hospital Pest Control and the Fight Against Superbugs
    August 20, 2025
    Hygiene Beyond The Clinic: Attention To Overlooked Non-Clinical Spaces
    August 13, 2025
    5 Steps to a Promising Career as a Healthcare Administrator
    August 3, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    ACOs: Millions of Web Hits…Dozens of Theories…One Bottom Line
    April 19, 2011
    Health Insurers’ Rate Increases Being More Scrutinized
    May 22, 2011
    AMA Meets at Policy Confab, Preps Vote on Reform Provision
    June 20, 2011
    Latest News
    How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
    August 22, 2025
    How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
    August 22, 2025
    How One Fall Can Lead to a Long Road of Medical Complications
    August 22, 2025
    How IT and Marketing Teams Can Collaborate to Protect Patient Trust
    July 17, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: Pain Management and Telemedicine
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Policy & Law > Public Health > Pain Management and Telemedicine
Public Health

Pain Management and Telemedicine

rdowney14
rdowney14
Share
3 Min Read
Image
SHARE

Image

I do think there are pain management practices that could provide quality healthcare to chronic pain patients in rural areas.  And the telemedicine pain doctors might do a lot to help these patients be better able to function.  But…..

Image

I do think there are pain management practices that could provide quality healthcare to chronic pain patients in rural areas.  And the telemedicine pain doctors might do a lot to help these patients be better able to function.  But…..

More Read

Prevent Cold or Flu: 3 Public Places to Avoid
Engaging Patients in the Advanced Practice Nurse Led Medical Home
Surprise – Adolescent Obesity Leads To Later Heart Disease and Diabetes
High Quality, Low Cost HealthCare Video Interview Series: Casey Quinlan – “HOW MUCH IS THAT?”
Vaccines Matter: A Public Health Rant

I know when I have a pain (and thankfully I don’t have any that is chronic), I want it to stop hurting.  Narcotic painkillers can help overcome pain, but they are only supposed to be a temporary solution. We all know why – they are addictive.  Constant use causes other physical problems like constipation.

My experience as an employee of a state medical board was an eye-opener.  Unless a physician can determine what is causing the pain – the pain generator – these drugs don’t correct the problem, they just cover it up.  I watched a number of physicians be disciplined and saw some of them lose their medical licenses because all they did for their pain patients was prescribe narcotics.  Some of them were naive; but most did it for the $$$.  Just about all those who got in trouble with the medical board were general practitioners in outlying areas who had minimal training, if any, in pain management.

This doesn’t mean that we should withhold medications from people who live with incredible chronic pain for which there are no treatments or procedures. They are the legitimate victims when a physician in a rural area loses his or her license for falling below the standard of care in not identifying the pain generators and working out a treatment plan for their patients. But narcotics should be wisely, not widely, used.

The benefits of medical care must outweigh the dangers to the patient.  So, I’m torn when the subject of using telemedicine for chronic pain patients comes up as it does in a blog post by Dr. Ryan Holzmacher, a triple board certified MD specializing in pain management.  Primary care doctors don’t do surgery without training.  They certainly shouldn’t do pain management without accredited training.   I believe, as does Dr. Holzmacher, that telemedicine can help pain patients as long as doctors do more than prescribe narcotics and approve refill after refill without checking to see if the treatment plan is working for the patient.  When it comes to pain management, I agree with him that “only specialized doctors should be treating [pain] patients.” How the medical board would state it would be “competent and qualified,” and unfortunately that’s way too ambiguous and invites trouble.

photo:Ilike/Shutterstock

TAGGED:pain managementpharmaceuticalstelemedicine
Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

travel nurse in north carolina
Balancing Speed and Scope: Choosing the Nursing Degree That Fits Your Goals
Nursing
September 1, 2025
intimacy
How to Keep Intimacy Comfortable as You Age
Relationship and Lifestyle Senior Care
September 1, 2025
engineer fitting prosthetic arm
How Social Security Disability Shapes Access to Care and Everyday Health
Health care
August 20, 2025
a woman explaining the document
How a DUI Lawyer Can Help When Your Future Health Feels Uncertain
Public Health
August 20, 2025

You Might also Like

Hospitals Push Hard for Medicaid Expansion

May 2, 2013

Leaning Forward in Health Care

November 4, 2012

Mobilizing Stakeholders For Better Health, Better Care And Lower Costs

April 13, 2012
inappropriate antibiotics for a cold just say no
Public Health

Antibiotics for a Virus? How to Just Say “No”

December 21, 2012
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?