| A Comprehensive Approach to Chronic Pain and Wellness Functional restoration is an intensive interdisciplinary group process of education, psychotherapy, and physical reconditioning through exercise and functional activities. The process results in reformation of neuromuscular, sensory and cognitive patterns that influence the individual patient's thinking, perception and physical response to pain. An individualized care plan provides each patient with a "tool kit" of methods to manage chronic pain and return to a productive lifestyle. An integrated interdisciplinary treatment model has been shown to be superior to physical therapy and psychotherapy provided separately in terms of functional and emotional gains. The functional restoration program meets five days a week for group-oriented education and individualized exercise. A typical day involves participation in five one-hour activities including physical conditioning, psycho-educational groups, vocational counseling, medical follow up, and education in nutrition and wellness. There are approximately 200 hours of contact time in an eight-week program. Abbreviated programs are offered, and are structured based on individual needs. Patient functional progress and program participation is reevaluated weekly at our interdisciplinary team conferences. Case managers and claims adjusters are welcome to attend in person or by teleconference. For individuals that live too far away to travel daily, we provide coordination with local hotels to offer special package rates and services for our patients. Since 2001, our program has helped improve the quality of life for our graduates, with many returning to normal activities of living, including both family responsibilities and employment. Our goals include: - providing each patient with a range of tools that can help them confidently and more effectively manage pain,
- helping return the patient to their highest functional level and to meaningful activities through increased fitness and strength, and
- increasing a patient's sense of emotional well-being and independence, and
- establishing achievable goals within the workplace that enable injured workers to return to productive employment.
Benefits for Case Management Although the overwhelming majority of on-the-job injuries successfully resolve with appropriate treatment, approximately 10% - 15% of work-related injuries go on to account for a significantly larger proportion of medical costs. We believe that much of these costs are the result of ineffective medical management of complex chronic pain disorders. Our Functional Restoration Program (FRP) was designed to lead to effective case management and resolution of difficult-to-manage pain cases. Our program offers a way out of the tangle of conflicting opinions, competing diagnoses and chaotic management. Multidisciplinary Evaluation By the time a patient with chronic pain arrives at the Functional Restoration Program (FRP), their situation has often become complicated by sometimes conflicting medical, psychosocial, vocational and legal systems. To help clarify issues that may have stalled a particular case, we provide a comprehensive multidisciplinary evaluation conducted by an experienced pain management physician, clinical psychologist and physical therapist. The team discusses each case, and our report from this full-day evaluation will document our consensus regarding the patient's appropriateness for the FRP. In the cases that are determined not to be appropriate for the program, we will provide recommendations for further assessment or intervention. Medical Services Each participant meets weekly during the program with a BAPWC physician who will discuss medical concerns, adjust medications, provide education and coordinate care. Our physicians' philosophy is to optimize medication efficacy based on functional activity, while minimizing side effects. Core Principles Effective Communication We believe that the successful resolution of a complex case includes full communication between all involved parties including the case manager, adjuster, attorneys and referring physicians. Our team meets regularly to evaluate the progress of each patient, and weekly reports are provided to involved parties. In the event of problems with compliance, lack of progress or early discharge, it is our policy to immediately alert the case manager and/or adjuster. Integrated Services Our multidisciplinary team provides integrated care targeted toward specific functional and psychosocial goals for each patient. Formal weekly team meetings and informal daily team interactions help keep a thoughtful structure to the program and allow flexibility for the individual learning process. After Care Most graduates complete the program having made substantial and measurable improvements in function, strength and emotional well being. To help support our graduates in maintaining these gains, we have incorporated an after care program that includes bi-monthly participation in a peer-led alumni support group. We also encourage early authorization of independent gym memberships for each patient so that they can seamlessly transition from the Functional Restoration Program to an independent exercise program designed specifically to help maintain their physical gains. Commitment to Quality We are committed to maintaining the most positive and effective atmosphere for learning at the Bay Area Pain & Wellness Center. Through our initial multidisciplinary evaluation process, we accept only those patients who appear motivated and able to succeed. In the event that full participation is not optimal, we attempt to identify barriers to full participation and help the patient to overcome these barriers. In the event that this is not achieved, we proceed to early discharge in a non-judgmental manner with full documentation provided to payers along with recommendations for continued medical care. For more information about our Functional Restoration Program, please visit any of the following pages: Art Therapy
Psychoeducational Services
Physical Restoration Services
Vocational Counseling Services
Nutritional Services
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