HR0426 LRB095 12164 DRJ 36266 r

1
HOUSE RESOLUTION

 
2     WHEREAS, More than 100 million Americans suffer from
3 persistent pain; and
 
4     WHEREAS, Pain is the primary reason for persons to seek
5 medical care; and
 
6     WHEREAS, More than one-half of hospitalized patients
7 experience moderate to severe pain in the last days of their
8 lives; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Inadequately managed pain diminishes a person's
10 quality of life; and
 
11     WHEREAS, Most pain can be relieved or greatly eased with
12 existing therapies; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Certain barriers exist that inhibit the effective
14 management of pain, including fears about pain relieving
15 medications, lack of knowledge among health care professionals
16 on how to properly assess and treat pain, poor communication
17 between patients and their health care providers, the low
18 priority given to pain control in our health care system, and
19 government policies which do not promote effective pain
20 management; and
 

 

 

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1     WHEREAS, Illinois compared poorly to other states for its
2 public policies that affect pain management according to a
3 national study published in 2006 by the Pain & Policy Studies
4 Group at the University of Wisconsin; and
 
5     WHEREAS, Pain management should be recognized, supported
6 and encouraged as part of general medical practice; and
 
7     WHEREAS, All individuals with pain would benefit from
8 having their pain thoroughly assessed and promptly treated; and
 
9     WHEREAS, Appropriate application of pain management
10 practices improves the quality of life for those who suffer
11 from pain while reducing the morbidity and cost associated with
12 untreated or inappropriately treated pain; and
 
13     WHEREAS, Education of all healthcare practitioners is
14 essential to improving care; and
 
15     WHEREAS, Healthcare providers in many settings, such as
16 acute, chronic, long-term and end of life, care daily for
17 patients in pain and have the professional responsibility to
18 promote improved patient care; therefore, be it
 
19     RESOLVED, BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE

 

 

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1 NINETY-FIFTH GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS, that
2 the Illinois Department of Public Health, the Illinois
3 Department of Healthcare and Family Services, and the Illinois
4 Department of Human Services are encouraged to address pain as
5 a public health problem by making information available to
6 consumers and health care providers through their respective
7 web sites; and be it further
 
8     RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Financial and
9 Professional Regulation solicit from its various health
10 related professional boards a joint resolution that recognizes
11 the importance of effective pain management in the treatment
12 and care of patients; and be it further
 
13     RESOLVED, That the Illinois Department of Financial and
14 Professional Regulation solicit from the Medical Licensing
15 Board and the Medical Disciplinary Board their advice and
16 counsel regarding the feasibility of adopting by rule standards
17 of professional conduct in providing effective pain management
18 treatment in the general practice of medicine and that the
19 Department disseminate to Illinois physicians information
20 regarding the rule once adopted; and be it further
 
21     RESOLVED, That public and private sources are encouraged to
22 promote better pain management education to both Illinois
23 health care professionals and consumers; and be it further
 

 

 

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1     RESOLVED, That the Illinois General Assembly evaluate
2 Illinois' public policies that have the potential to affect
3 pain management and take the necessary steps to improve them;
4 and be it further
 
5     RESOLVED, That suitable copies of this resolution be
6 delivered to the Governor, the Director of Public Health, the
7 Director of Healthcare and Family Services, the Secretary of
8 Human Services, and the Secretary of Financial and Professional
9 Regulation.