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Welcome
Welcome to the University of Utah Center for Pain Medicine. This following provides you with information about our facility, staff, and your care. We are available to answer any questions you may have. Our office hours are from 8 am to 4:30 pm Monday through Friday. We are closed for weekends and holidays. Call our office during business hours to make an appointment or to speak to a doctor or nurse at (801) 581-7246 or outside of the Salt Lake City area 1-800-824-2073 and ask the operator for extension 1-7246.
Top Mission
The mission of the Pain Management Center at the University of Utah Hospitals and Clinics is to provide high quality, compassionate care to people experiencing pain. The Pain Management Center strives to assist individuals in their efforts to:
Increase their function Improve their quality of life Decrease suffering Decrease pain The Pain Management Center is dedicated to:
Providing education to patients and their families, as well as to current and future health care providers; Striving to serve patients and the families in an environment where they can receive high quality care with dignity and respect; Supporting on-going research aimed at developing a better understanding of all types of pain the methods of treating pain and suffering
Top Services
The Pain Management Center is composed of three main services designed to meet the needs of specific groups of patients.
Chronic Pain ServiceProvides care for people suffering from chronic pain not associated with cancer. This group includes Category I - moderate to severe impairment of physical and/or functional status and can include a day treatment program for a specified period of time, and Category II - mild to moderate impairment of physical and/or functional status.
Cancer Pain ServiceProvides care for people suffering from pain associated with all stages of cancer, other advanced disorders, or terminal diseases.
Pediatric Pain ServiceProvides care for children suffering pain from cancer and non-cancer causes.
Patient EvaluationPatients are referred to the Pain Management Center by their primary care physician or a specialist who is caring for them. Once a referral occurs, the patient is scheduled to see the pain management team.
For initial evaluations, patients will see some or all of the following pain management team members: a physician; a pain management psychologist; an occupational therapist; and a clinical nurse specialist.
An initial visit with the total team will last most of the day. If a patient sees only a physician and physical therapist during the initial visit, the patient should plan on spending two to three hours at the Pain Management Center.
After the initial evaluation, the pain management team will meet and discuss the patient's case as soon as possible, utilizing all the appropriate resources. Then, the team will meet with the patient again to discuss a proposed treatment plan and the goals of therapy. Patients always have the opportunity to ask questions and decide if they would like to receive therapy according to the proposed plan. The University of Utah Pain Management Center offers the only interdisciplinary pain management program in the Intermountain West. The team uses medical, pharmacological, psychological, and physical treatments to help the patient better manage pain. Resources of the School of Medicine, College of Pharmacy, and all of the clinical services of University Hospitals and Clinics are available for patient care.
Top Patient Rights
The Pain Management Center strives to protect and promote the rights of the people it serves.
If you have any questions or concerns about these rights, or about any aspect of care you receive from the Pain Management Center, please discuss your concerns with your care team. If you prefer, you may discuss your concerns with the Medical Director, Dr. Michael A. Ashburn, or the Program Director, Elaine Khanwilkar, M.S.,R.N.
Top Finances
Patients have the right to understand the cost of care provided to them through the Pain Management Center. The staff will discuss costs with patients on an individual basis and help patients talk to their insurance provider.
Top Patient Advocate Program
Your Advocate...Your Voice Dedication...That's what University Hospital stands for!
We are dedicated to providing quality care and services by responsive medical professionals and service representatives. Our goal is to help you maintain a sense of control over your health care while in our hospital. We are committed to ensuring that your dignity and rights as a patient are respected.
The Volunteer Patient Advocate Program is your direct link to hospital programs and services. Your patient advocate is an integral member of our team. Patient advocates provide assistance with concern and needs of patients and their families. They help resolve nonmedical problems by connecting you to services and resources within the hospital and community.
The Volunteer Patient Advocate Program is an affirmation to our dedication to our patients, families, and visitors. A patient advocate will visit you during your stay.
For immediate assistance, please contact Maria Anton, Patient Advocate Coordinator at 581-2699.
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