B.C. government looks to Australia, Ont., Que. models for provincial pain strategy

The executive director of Pain BC notes that Ontario and Quebec are funding province-wide pain management initiatives that include primary care physicians, nurse practitioners, physiotherapists and social workers as patients’ groups work to create co-ordinated pain management services. In B.C., the provincial government has a draft strategy that's expected to lead to formalized guidelines for treatment and establish a connection between family doctors and other experts dealing in chronic pain. She states that a national strategy - similar to that used in Australia - would provide common pain management standards for all patients, including for opioid use.