A multidisciplinary approach to patient controlled analgesia

Area of Science:

• Pharmacology
• Health Services Research
• Clinical Pharmacy

Background:

• Patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) offers innovative intravenous pain management.
• Effective PCA implementation demands significant therapeutic and technical expertise from healthcare professionals.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe a multidisciplinary process for implementing a PCA program.
• To outline strategies for overcoming challenges encountered during PCA program implementation.

Main Methods:

• Established a pharmacy and therapeutics subcommittee to oversee the PCA program.
• Assigned specific roles to medical, nursing, pharmacy, IV therapy, and clinical equipment support teams.
• Developed a pharmacy-based protocol, usage guidelines, and specialized order/disposition forms.
• Conducted a comparative analysis of PCA pumps to guide selection.

Main Results:

• A multidisciplinary approach facilitated the successful implementation and ongoing maintenance of a quality PCA program.
• Addressed challenges such as dedicated IV access, use in specialized units, and pediatric patient application.
• Pharmacy-led protocols and specific documentation enhanced program management.

Conclusions:

• A collaborative, multidisciplinary strategy is effective for implementing and sustaining sophisticated drug-delivery systems like PCA.
• This model provides a framework for introducing other advanced pharmaceutical interventions.