Pain Management: Team
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The pain management team at Eastern
Unlike other hospitals in which your medical oncologist is often the only one to address your pain, CTCA at Eastern Regional Medical Center has a team in place focused on managing your pain throughout your cancer care.
The pain management team at Eastern, which functions within the Care Management Department, is comprised of dedicated pain management specialists.
One member of the team, Matt Nye, is an oncology-certified pain management nurse and Nursing Supervisor at the hospital. Nye has been with CTCA since the Philadelphia hospital opened in December 2005. He has over 10 years of experience as an oncology nurse and is also certified in advanced cardiac life support (ACLS).
Nye works hand-in-hand with the other members of the pain management team to proactively manage your pain. “It’s so gratifying. If we get a patient who came in the day before in tears and today, they grab you and hug you in the halls. There is nothing better than that,” says Nye.
In addition, another area of pain management is anesthesiology. Dr. Sarah Fisher, one of Eastern’s anesthesiologists, will provide pain control during surgical procedures and in other medical capacities. Dr. Fisher has extensive clinical training and teaching experience. She completed an anesthesiology residency at the University of Pennsylvania.
Collaboration among your care team
Nye and the rest of the pain management team share knowledge and information to best manage your pain. “It is a team effort. We’ll discuss it together and seek the best treatment for the patient. It’s not about us, it’s about the patient,” Nye says.
The pain management team also consults daily with your radiologists, medical, surgical and radiation oncologists, and hospitalists. They also consult regularly with the CAM departments to balance pain medicine with supportive options.
For instance, if you are experiencing gastric problems or pain while eating, the nutrition team can intervene with nutrition therapies. The naturopathic medicine team can provide relief for side effects caused by your pain medications. The rehabilitation team can help reduce pain by helping to increase your mobility. Using relaxation tools, the mind-body team may help reduce your anxiety and fatigue.
Additionally, the pain team attends “endorsement” meetings with all the clinical disciplines three times a week. During these meetings, your pain specialist is able to exchange information with other members of your CTCA care team. For instance, they can discuss upcoming surgeries and plan strategies for pain intervention.
The pain team also participates in “Comfort Rounds” two times a week for inpatients. During these visits, pain specialists join with your other clinicians and support staff to discuss your concerns.
