Chronic Pain in the Emergency Department

Abstract

OBJECTIVE To describe the experiences of emergency department (ED) use among a population of Rhode Island Medicaid patients with chronic pain and a recent history of frequent ED use, who were eligible to participate in the Rhode Island Medicaid Pain Management program. METHODS  Qualitative interviews were conducted with twenty-four patients who were either enrolled, or eligible to be enrolled, in a pain management program that is part of a state-funded initiative to reduce ED overuse. RESULTS Four main themes describe the experiences of these patients seeking ED care: (1) patients perceive that they use the ED appropriately; (2) frustrations in communication with ED providers; (3) helplessness; (4) changes in beliefs and behaviors with care coordination. CONCLUSIONS Patients enrolled, or eligible to be enrolled, in the Rhode Island Medicaid Pain Management program believe they use the ED for true emergencies, but feel helpless and unable to communicate effectively with ED providers. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2017-02.asp].