WHEREAS, Chronic pain is a destructive disease and is not a simple disorder but a serious medical disease; and

WHEREAS, Persistent pain should be viewed as a disease affecting quality of life, job performance and security; and

WHEREAS, Four in ten Americans suffer pain daily, and one in three adults endure frequent or constant pain and more than half of the people reporting pain also report high levels of stress and fatigue; and

WHEREAS, 83% of Rhode Island nursing home residents experience severe pain that impairs mobility, causes depression, and diminishes the quality of life; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 30% of nursing home residents with daily pain were receiving no pain medication of any form; and

WHEREAS, Among nursing home residents who die, nearly one in four did not have their pain treated; and

WHEREAS, Pain untreated or under-treated adversely impacts the quality of life for patients; and

WHEREAS, Pain may lead to further complications such as poor healing, depression and immuno-suppression; and

WHEREAS, Up to 95% of terminally ill patients' pain can be relieved with adequate pain management; and

WHEREAS, Effective pain management is considered an essential component of good health care; and

WHEREAS, Unrelieved pain adversely impacts the cost of health care; and

WHEREAS, The philosophy of hospice care includes the treatment of pain; and

WHEREAS, Terminally ill patients and their families could benefit from the pain management services that hospice provides; and

WHEREAS, Referring patients to hospice care late in their treatment deprives the patients and their families the benefits associated with hospice care, including pain management; and

WHEREAS, Hospice care is an important component of health care; and

WHEREAS, The Rhode Island Department of Health is vested with authority to regulate health care facilities and can require all licensed health care facilities to assess and manage patients' pain; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Health is vested with the authority to regulate physicians and other health care providers and can require physicians and health care providers to assess and manage patients' pain; and

WHEREAS, The Department of Health is vested with authority to develop programs to educate the physicians, other health care professionals, and the public concerning pain assessment and management; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this House of Representatives of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations hereby recognizes that pain can adversely impact outcomes of medical and surgical procedures, diminish the quality of life for Rhode Island citizens, and increase health care costs. We hereby recognize that most pain can be managed, resulting in the improvement of quality of life for Rhode Island citizens; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Health sponsor educational programs for physicians and health care providers to alert them of the importance of regular pain assessment and pain management for patients; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Health sponsor educational programs for patients and their families concerning the role of pain in the patient's outcome and quality of life; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Health promulgate rules and regulations for the assessment of patients' pain by licensed health care providers and in licensed health care facilities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Health publish a "Best Practice" guidelines for the assessment of pain in licensed nursing facilities and by licensed health care providers; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Health monitor licensed health care facilities' pain assessment and management programs, including, but not limited to, a component of all surveys of licensed nursing facilities; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Health proclaim that pain assessment and management are quality indicators of health care; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Health sponsor educational programs for physicians and patients concerning the importance of hospice care and the means to access hospice care; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Health proclaim that hospice care is a vital program for terminally ill patients; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Department of Health proclaim "Pain Awareness Week" November 11 through November 18, 2002; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and he is hereby authorized and directed to transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to the Director of the Department of Health.