This article is largely a defense and clarification by TJC of a number of mis-conceptions about its pain standards. It is made clear that TJC standards do not:

• require the use of drugs to manage a person’s pain
• a pain assessment on every patient (except in BHC programs)
• endorse pain as a (5th) vital sign
• require pain to be treated until the pain score is zero
• push doctors to prescribe opioids

On the other hand, TJC standards do call for:

• education of all LIPs on assessing and managing pain
• hospital respect of the patient’s right to pain management
• comprehensive assessment/reassessment and management of the patient’s pain
• treatment or referral for treatment of the patient’s pain with pharmacologic and/or non-pharmacologic approaches.

Tip 1: Download the full article and share for discussion with Medical Staff and Nursing
Tip 2: Include the misconceptions as questions in mock tracers.