- We do NOT prescribe any opioids on the first patient visit.
- We attempt to limit/minimize prescribing chronic opioids.
- You may, from time to time, be subject to random urine drug tests and random pill counts.
- We do NOT advocate prescribing chronic opioids to noncancer pain patients on a long term basis ( ie>3 months).
- We optimize other treatment strategies other than medication management to determine a diagnosis of where your pain is coming from so we may better be able to treat your pain.
- Just because you have been seen and/or have an appointment at VIPSC does not mean we will prescribe and/or takeover your current pain medication regimen. Please make your current provider aware of this.
- An appointment at our pain clinic does not automatically put you in a contract with us regarding pain medications.
- If you are already on a current stable pain regimen from another provider, we will not continue this. This will be left up to the provider who put you on and/or has maintained this regimen.
- If you were referred to us strictly for medication management, we act solely as a consult service. This means that we will make recommendations as to how to change your regimen to optimize your pain control so that you can live a better quality of life with less potential side effects of chronic high dose medications.
- As a consult service for medication management, we at times will take over prescribing your medications but only with the understanding that another provider, usually your primary care provider, take over prescribing these medications when your pain control is stabilized. This relationship with your PCP/prescribing provider must be established prior to VIPSC prescribing opioid therapy. When you pain regimen is stabilized, you would continue to follow us every 3-6 months to make sure your current pain regimen is still providing you the best relief possible with minimal side effects. On the other hand, if your pain changes or becomes uncontrolled on the current regimen, we would be happy to see you sooner to further diagnose and treat your new and/or worsening condition.
- By having your primary care provider continue your stable pain medication regimen, this allows the providers at VIPSC to see patients whose pain are not well controlled sooner allowing better access to care to those in need.
Patient Responsibility Agreement for Controlled Substances
