Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre

A Pillar of the Michael G. DeGroote Centre Institute for Pain Research and Care

The Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre is the third pillar in the tripod of what we anticipate will be an internationally important initiative.

In Hamilton, the identification of the problem of chronic pain and the need for development of effective treatment is increasingly absorbing more attention and focus.

We have the basic science program currently in the Institute for Pain Research and Care, robustly accented with related research in its sister institutes.

McMaster and Hamilton Health Sciences currently operate the largest university-affiliated pain centre in Canada, with over 13,000 patient visits annually. This provides clinical care as well as training for health care professionals in pain management, and a unique opportunity to evaluate the impact of guidelines on care.

The combination of basic science, clinical care and education, and now the National Pain Centre’s development of best practice guidelines will make the Michael G. DeGroote Institute for Pain Research and Care unequalled in the international quest to resolve the problem of chronic pain.

News

• National strategy announced - "First Do No Harm: Responding to Canada's Prescription Drug Crisis" aimed at highlighting what is needed to address the problem of prescription drug abuse in Canada. http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/medication-abuse-strategy-calls-for-more-monitoring-of-prescriptions-1.1213048
• CTV Three-Part Series on Chronic Pain. Focus on improving awareness of pain issues facing Canadians and highlighting the need for multidisciplinary management of chronic pain. Links for the three-part series: Monday, February 4, 2013 - http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/one-in-five-canadians-suffer-from-chronic-pain-1.1142695. February 6-7, 2013 - http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca.
• Mobile App now available on Android and Apple iTunes:
  • Canadian Guideline for Safe and Effective Use of Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain (Android App)
  • Canadian Guideline for Safe and Effective Use of Opioids for Chronic Non-Cancer Pain (Apple iTunes App)
• The Opioid Manager app is now available at Apple iTunes. Leave your comments/suggestions at facebook.com/opioidmanager.
• Learn about "The Pain Diaries" a play (soon to be a film) about one woman's journey through chronic pain. http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/240617
• Critics allege OxyNEO was introduced in Canada because of impending patent expiry (The Toronto Star, April 21, 2012)
• Chronic pain patients overlooked in debate about OxyContin abuse (Globe and Mail, April 15, 2012)
• McMaster University is conducting a study on a new FREE information service for evidence-based pain management: http://plus.mcmaster.ca/PainPlus/
• Ideas and innovations. The Opioid Manager: A point-of-care tool to facilitate the use of the Canadian Opioid Guideline. AD Furlan, R Reardon, L Salach. J Opioid Management, Jan/Feb 2012; p 57-61. Abstract.
• Chronic pain patients collateral damage of drug-abuse policy (Andre Picard, Globe and Mail, March 5, 2012)
• Fatal overdose sparks warning about switch from OxyContin (Anna Mehler Paperny, Globe and Mail, March 5, 2012)
• Rush to remove OxyContin called misguided (Vancouver Sun, March 1 2012)
• The Michael G. DeGroote National Pain Centre hosted a CIHR CAFE Scientifique on November 2, 2011 - "What a Pain! Debate Around the Use of Opioids in Chronic Pain Management". Key messages from patients, physicians and pharmacists were presented. [View Video]