Outcomes analysis of a pain management project for two rural hospitals

There has been a strong emphasis on effective pain management in recent years, yet application of new knowledge and research in the area seems to be implemented inadequately. Traditional educational approaches for clinicians must be complemented by interventions in health care systems that more directly influence the routine behaviors of clinicians. In an effort to address this problem, a project was designed to increase institutional commitment to improving pain management in two rural hospitals. The purpose of this article is to present the change process used and the findings from the program.