SD3 - An Inventory of the Pain Management Curricula Offered in the Commonwealth of Virginia's Three Medical Schools


Executive Summary:
In accordance with Senate Joint Resolution 366, the three medical schools within the Commonwealth of Virginia--the School of Medicine at the University of Virginia, Eastern Virginia Medical School, and the School of Medicine at Virginia Commonwealth University--surveyed their existing medical education curricula in pain and pain management to determine if the current offerings adequately reflected new information and national guidelines for the treatment of acute and chronic pain. This study was requested in order to assist the General Assembly's Joint Subcommittee to Study the Commonwealth s Current Laws and Policies Related to Chronic, Acute, and Cancer Pain, whose activities over the last three years have concentrated on improving the knowledge and attitudes among Virginia's health professionals on the relief of pain. In addition to an inventory of their current educational offerings in pain treatment and pain management, the medical schools were asked to report on possible ways to include more comprehensive instruction on chronic, acute, and cancer pain management within their institutions and in the Commonwealth.