ABSTRACT
Educators, clinicians, and professional organizations have invested great amounts of time and resources over the past 20 years to address inadequate pain control, yet much pain goes unrelieved. This article describes an approach that has been adopted in a number of settings across the country to improve care by institutionalizing pain management. The elements of institutionalization are delineated, and one setting’s experience is described. Persistent barriers to success are examined with an eye to future directions for practice. [Article copies available for a fee from The Haworth Document Delivery Service: 1-800-342-9678. E-mail address: [email protected]]