MidMichigan Health promotes patient and family involvement in all aspects of their care, including effective management of pain.

Our healthcare team is committed to providing effective pain management, with the goals being:

• to ensure that you have little or no pain, or
• to reduce pain to a level that is acceptable to you

We take all pain seriously and understand that unrelieved pain can have negative physical, psychological, social and spiritual consequences. Your healthcare team will work with you to regularly re-assess your pain and to develop an appropriate plan for managing it. This team may include doctors, nurses, pharmacists, therapists, social workers or chaplains.

Patient Rights

As a patient, you have the right to assessment and appropriate management of your pain. You can expect:

• Information about pain and pain relief measures
• Belief in and response to your reports of pain
• A concerned staff, committed to preventing pain and educated on safe and effective pain management

Patient Responsibilities

We expect that you will:

• Provide information about your pain, including any history of chronic pain and any pain relief therapies used.
• Discuss pain relief options with your healthcare team and work with them to develop a pain management plan. Options may include medications and other methods, such as distraction, relaxation and use of heat, cold and massage.
• Ask for pain relief when pain first begins.
• Help us assess your pain and tell us if your pain is not relieved. We will use a pain management scale (PDF 67KB) to help you rate your level of pain.
• Tell us if you have any concerns about taking pain medication.
• Notify us of any specific cultural, spiritual or personal beliefs associated with pain and pain relief measures.
• Ask questions to ensure you understand your pain medication and how it is to be taken.

Managing Side Effects

Pain medications can be associated with side effects. Let your healthcare team know if you experience any possible side effects, such as:

• Nausea and/or vomiting
• Constipation
• Sleeplessness/weakness
• Itching
• Confusion
• Problems urinating
• Shortness of breath
• Unexplained symptoms