JCAHO Pain Management Standards / JCAHO on the lookout for pain assessment

Why This Topic Matters

Pain assessment is a common quality and compliance expectation in patient care settings, and this article summarizes how facilities can operationalize that expectation without relying on a single approach for every patient group.

Article Sections

1. Pain assessment expectations on admission

   Introduces the expectation that pain be assessed when a patient is admitted and frames the standard at a high level.

2. Implementation tips for screening and documentation

   Covers general workflow ideas for screening questions, documentation tools, and staff education related to pain assessment.

3. Using appropriate pain intensity tools for different patient groups

   Discusses the need to consider patient population differences when selecting and presenting pain measurement tools.

4. Consistency in pain measurement

   Addresses the importance of using a consistent assessment approach for the same patient over time.