WorkCover recently presented a seminar, in conjunction with the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists Faculty of Pain Medicine, on the management and treatment of pain.
'Living and working with pain' attracted more than 180 health professionals who heard leading medical experts discuss the management of both acute and chronic pain in a compensation environment, addressing issues surrounding how to return to work with pain.
The seminar was recorded live and a DVD is now available.
Run time: approximately 140 minutes
Cost: $15.00
To order a DVD, please complete the order form or contact the SafeWork SA bookshop on 13 18 55.
Speakers covered these topics:
- Dr Carolyn Arnold, Clinical Director of the Caulfield Pain Management and Research Centre, Melbourne, presented an overview on managing chronic pain and how the holistic principles which recognise medical, physical, psychological, environmental and vocational factors need to be considered because the traditional approach, which follows "sequential' treatment, has little impact.
- Dr David Champion, Director of Pain Research Unit, Sydney Children's Hospital, explored how childhood, adolescence and family influences can impact the risk of chronic pain in adults, including looking at the increasing evidence that support this.
- Dr Dilip Kapur, Senior Consultant in Pain management at Flinders Medical Centre, presented on the potential for over medication of patients with chronic pain and its adverse outcomes, and the need for practitioners to be resilient against inappropriate prescribing based on pain behaviour, threats and distress.
- Dr Malcolm Hogg, Head of Pain Services, Melbourne Health, explained the impact that technology has had through the use of implants but also cautioned its use because of the potential for serious side affects and that it should be reserved for only extreme case and after rigorous assessment.
- Dr Chris Hayes, Director of Hunter Integrated Pain Service in Newcastle, then led a lively hypothetical scenario and panel discussion. The panel incorporated all the presenters and included Dr Patricia Montanaro, WorkCover's General Practitioner consultant.
- Dr Ian Steven, WorkCover Medical Consultant concluded with a presentation on the compensation and chronic pain statistics for South Australia.
Biographies of Living with pain seminar speakers [671KB]