[Complex pain therapy: if the right hand does not know what the left hand does - A case report]

In this case report difficulties in cancer pain therapy are highlighted which can make adequate pain relief difficult. In addition to compliance, the main factor in this case report related to the patient, organizational setting and technological developments in recent years have become increasingly important. The transfer in storing medical records from paper version to a digital file has already started, and due to increasing amounts of data is also without alternative, though there is a lack of compatibility of the available information technology (IT) systems in Austria as well as across the borders in Europe. This often impedes continuous care to cancer patients, because this patient population is often treated by physicians in different settings and various disciplines. In particular, changes in the analgesic regimen to optimize pain relief in an inpatient setting sometimes cause problems when the medicines have to be prescribed subsequently in a private practice.Based on the available literature, the need for electric data collection in the health system and close networking with general practitioners and other physicians working in private practice will be discussed especially with regards to the medication. This is not only sensible and necessary in order to increase transparency and traceability of medical prescriptions, but also to minimize medical errors and avert harm to the patient.