The Recuperative Pain Management (RPM) Service works with the Acute Pain Service (APS) and Pain Management Service provide safe and effective pain management to all patients from the time they are transitioned from their patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) pump to oral pain medication. These providers will manage your pain levels until you are discharged from the hospital.
The RPM Service is committed to reducing postoperative pain and ensuring that all patients are placed on an oral pain medication regimen that adequately controls their pain both here in the hospital and while recovering from their surgery at home. If a pain medication is not sufficient or causing unwanted side-effects, providers from the RPM Service are consulted and will make the necessary changes to the medication regimen.
The RPM Service consists of a specialized team of clinicians with expertise in postoperative pain management, including an anesthesiologist and a nurse practitioner. The RPM Service works with the surgeons, nurses, APS, physical therapists, and the social services department to ensure that a comprehensive and patient-specific discharge plan (including pain management) is in place for every patient.
The RPM Service also provides patient education about pain management and the pain medications being used. The nurse practitioner on the RPM Service will see you once or twice daily. If your pain is well controlled on pain medications after transitioning from the PCA pump, the RPM Service will see that patient on the day of their discharge to provide pain education and answer any pain management questions you or your family and caregivers may have.