Guidelines on Accreditation of Pain
Management Training Centres

INTRODUCTION

Two categories of training are to be provided by the College: Post-fellowship Training in Pain Management leading to Diploma in Pain Management (Dip Pain Mgt (HKCA)) and Pre-fellowship Training in Pain Management as part of a Vocational Training Programme for trainee anaesthesiologists. The training programme for the two categories of training MUST be provided in accredited training centres.

 

MINIMUM REQUIREMENTS FOR PAIN MANAGEMENT ACCREDITATION

1. INSTITUTION

Institution or cluster of institutions accredited for training must have Anaesthesiology based Pain Management Team (PMT) providing the following scope of service:

1.1 Acute Pain Service including postoperative pain management.

1.2 Chronic Pain Management Service which includes:

1.2.1 cancer pain.
1.2.2 chronic non-cancer pain.

2. PERSONNEL

2.1 Medical Staff:

There shall be a:

2.1.1 Director of Pain Management who possesses Dip Pain Mgt (HKCA) issued by HKCA or its equivalent, and a
2.1.2 Supervisor of Training in Pain Management who possesses Dip Pain Mgt (HKCA) issued by HKCA or its equivalent.
2.1.3 The Director of Pain Management and Supervisor of Training can be the same person.
2.1.4 Manpower for running of the service: at least one full-time-equivalent (FTE) medical staff for daily running of the service. (FTE is defined as no less than 7 sessions per week.)

2.2 Clerical staff:

2.2.1 Case booking.
2.2.2 Patient record keeping and data management.

3. FACILITIES

3.1 Space:

3.1.1 Designated office and consultation room.
3.1.2 Treatment suite.
3.1.3 Access to operating theatre with imaging facilities.

3.2 Right to admit patients for pain management.

3.3 In-patient facilities:

3.3.1 In-hospital referrals or consultations from other specialties.
3.3.2 Consultation to other specialists including psychologists.
3.3.3 Access to physiotherapy, occupational therapy, medical social workers and other paramedical services.

3.4 Outpatient Clinic: at least one regular weekly session.

3.5 Library facilities.

4. PATIENT LOAD

4.1 The minimum annual case load per training post has to be fulfilled:

4.1.1 At least one hundred new patients with chronic or cancer pain.
4.1.2 At least two hundred new patients with acute or postoperative pain.

5. TEACHING, QUALITY ASSURANCE (QA) AND CONTINUOUS QUALITY IMPROVEMENT (CQI) ACTIVITIES

5.1 Regular clinical conferences with active participation of trainers and trainees.

5.2 Regular continued medical education activities (CME), QA and CQI activities in pain management.