NSW standardised pain charts

The ACI, together with the Pain Nurses Australia, pharmacists and expert clinicians in the field of pain management, have standardised eight pain charts for use in NSW hospitals.

The charts have been endorsed by the Clinical Excellence Commission, Medication Safety Expert Advisory Committee and the State Forms Committee for use in NSW public hospitals.

Aims

• Provide a consistent framework and format for prescribing, recording and monitoring adult patients receiving a patient controlled analgesia (PCA), a single dose opioid via the neuraxial route, ketamine infusion, epidural infusion, continuous opioid infusion, or a peripheral nerve infusion.
• Provide 'track and trigger' principles consistent with 'Between the Flags' documentation which recognises the deteriorating adult patient associated with the administration of opioids via the above modalities.
• Improve safety by reducing the incidence of adverse events associated with PCA, ketamine infusions, neuraxial opioid administration, epidural, peripheral nerve and continuous opioid infusions.

Statewide approved pain charts

NSW Health facilities can purchase charts from Finsbury Green.

Sample charts for use in training.

Explanatory notes outline the elements and function of each chart.

Presentations provide clinical staff with an overview of each chart and how to complete each section. The presentations may be tailored to suit individual facilities. Presentations are to be printed in colour to ensure accurate representation of the colour coding for clinical review and rapid response criteria.

Audit tools evaluate the correct use and completion of the pain charts.