Telehealth: A Promising Approach to the Issue of Poor Access to Multidisciplinary Pain Management

Abstract

Chronic pain is a national public health problem. Poor availability of treatment leads to increased costs, unnecessary suffering for patients, and a significant economic burden to society. The experience of chronic pain is multifaceted; while it is a physical phenomenon, it is often accompanied by complex psychosocial effects. Chronic pain is better understood through the biopsychosocial model. This biopsychosocial model highlights physiological, psychological, and social impacts and how they can prolong or exacerbate the pain experience. Effective treatment of this complex condition requires a management and treatment strategy that covers the full scope of the disease experience. Multidisciplinary pain management is an evidence-based, holistic approach to treating chronic pain that addresses the complexity of the condition by assembling a multidisciplinary team of medical experts to develop a thorough treatment strategy for the patient and treat pain through the lens of the biopsychosocial model. Compared to conventional methods of managing chronic pain, which ignore the psychosocial aspects of chronic pain and place more emphasis on its physical component, this treatment is more efficient and less expensive. The best ethical course of treatment for those with chronic pain is a multidisciplinary one that addresses all facets of the pain experience. Unfortunately, there is a widespread lack of access to this care due to a lack of availability, funding, and awareness of this treatment style. Today, telehealth and internet-based platforms provide new ways for patients to access outpatient treatment and other forms of healthcare remotely. This kind of access can be a cost-effective, accessible, and convenient way for patients to engage with multidisciplinary pain management and provides a solution to the challenges of delivering multidisciplinary pain management.