After the patient has been evaluated and a personalized treatment plan determined, then a number of operational tasks must be performed before the patient leaves the clinic.
Patient selection: initiation of opioid therapy for chronic pain
Operational tasks that must be completed after the decision to treat the patient with an opioid has been made:
(1) determine what the patient's goals are
(2) outline the course of therapy and when it will be discontinued
(3) educate the patient about the therapy and document in the medical record
(4) inform the patient about potential adverse effects of the opioid therapy
(5) have the patient sign the patient-physician opioid agreement (controlled substance agreement)
(6) have the patient provide informed consent
(7) perform a baseline check of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP)
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