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Christiansen S, Pritzlaff S, Escobar A, Kohan L. A sudden shift for Pain Medicine fellowships - A recount of the 2024 match. INTERVENTIONAL PAIN MEDICINE 2024; 3:100404. [PMID: 39238587 PMCID: PMC11372934 DOI: 10.1016/j.inpm.2024.100404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/16/2024] [Indexed: 09/07/2024]
Abstract
Pain Medicine, a field that was once considered primarily a specialty of opioid medication management, evolved into a multimodal care model with the goal of limiting reliance on pain medications. Now, we see another revolution-the advancement from percutaneous procedures to minimally invasive surgical procedures. Despite these changes, Pain Medicine fellowships have consistently been recognized as a competitive subspecialty with more applicants than the number of available positions - until now. The most recent pain fellowship match suggests an abrupt change to the popularity of the specialty (with over 61 unmatched positions and over 35 unfilled programs) for applicants expected to matriculate in the year 2024 [1]. Unfilled positions have risen from 5% to 15% in the past three years. Similarly, unfilled programs have risen from 10% to 30% in the past three years. Several reasons for this sudden change in popularity have been proposed, including a lucrative general anesthesiology market, increasing difficulties with insurance coverage and reimbursement for procedures, and a dearth of advanced pain procedures performed at academic medicine programs. The field is at a critical juncture, necessitating ongoing discussions and collaboration among stakeholders to ensure that trainees are attracted to this dynamic field and are ultimately equipped to meet the evolving needs of patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandy Christiansen
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Scott Pritzlaff
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Alexander Escobar
- Department of Anesthesiology, The University of Toledo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Lynn Kohan
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
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Mahmoud A, Aman MM, Trumbo JL, Paracha U, Langell A, Petersen E. Education and Experience in Intrathecal Drug Delivery Systems (IDDS) During Pain Medicine Fellowships. J Pain Res 2023; 16:4367-4377. [PMID: 38162405 PMCID: PMC10757777 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s428851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 01/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Objective Targeted drug delivery (TDD) via intrathecal drug delivery systems (IDDS) exposure and clinical adoption remains low despite multiple well-designed trials that demonstrate safety, efficacy, reliability, and cost-saving benefits. This study aims to understand the possible contributing factors starting with Pain Medicine fellowship training. Materials and Methods An internet-based, anonymous pilot survey was distributed to pain medicine fellows enrolled in an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited pain medicine training program during the 2021-2022 academic year. Fellowship programs were identified using published online ACGME accreditation data. The survey was distributed via email to fellowship program directors and coordinators and was made available through pain medicine societies. Results Seventy-one of four hundred and twenty-three pain medicine fellows (17% response rate) completed the survey. Nine percent of respondents evidence-informed opinion coincided with the most recent Polyanalgesic Consensus Conference (PACC) guidelines recommendations for IDDS treatment indications. Fifty-one percent of respondents felt there was an unmet need for IDDS training. About one-third of respondents felt that lack of curriculum, faculty, and cases were barriers to IDDS use, respectively. Thirty-one percent of fellows reported sufficient training for IDDS in their fellowship programs. The majority (70%) of respondents somewhat or strongly support direct training by IDDS manufacturers. Conclusion A wide variability exists surrounding IDDS training during ACGME accredited pain medicine fellowship. Insufficient case exposure and lack of a standardized curriculum may play a role in future therapy adoption. The results from this study call for a more standardized training approach with an emphasis on adequate clinical exposure, utilization of peer reviewed educational curriculum and supplemental material to aid pain medicine fellows' education.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ammar Mahmoud
- Department of Pain Medicine, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor, ME, USA
| | - Mansoor M Aman
- Department of Pain Medicine, Advocate Aurora Health, Oshkosh, WI, USA
| | - Jennifer L Trumbo
- Clinical Research Center, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor, ME, USA
| | - Umera Paracha
- Department of Neurology, Northern Light Eastern Maine Medical Center, Bangor, ME, USA
| | - Ashley Langell
- Department of Pain Medicine, Cleveland Clinic Foundation, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Erika Petersen
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
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Pritzlaff SG, Goree JH, Hagedorn JM, Lee DW, Chapman KB, Christiansen S, Dudas A, Escobar A, Gilligan CJ, Guirguis M, Gulati A, Jameson J, Mallard CJ, Murphy MZ, Patel KV, Patel RG, Sheth SJ, Vanterpool S, Singh V, Smith G, Strand NH, Vu CM, Suvar T, Chakravarthy K, Kapural L, Leong MS, Lubenow TR, Abd-Elsayed A, Pope JE, Sayed D, Deer TR. Pain Education and Knowledge (PEAK) Consensus Guidelines for Neuromodulation: A Proposal for Standardization in Fellowship and Training Programs. J Pain Res 2023; 16:3101-3117. [PMID: 37727682 PMCID: PMC10505612 DOI: 10.2147/jpr.s424589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/23/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
The need to be competent in neuromodulation is and should be a prerequisite prior to completing a fellowship in interventional pain medicine. Unfortunately, many programs lack acceptable candidates for these advanced therapies, and fellows may not receive adequate exposure to neuromodulation procedures. The American Society of Pain and Neuroscience (ASPN) desires to create a consensus of experts to set a minimum standard of competence for neurostimulation procedures, including spinal cord stimulation (SCS), dorsal root ganglion stimulation (DRG-S), and peripheral nerve stimulation (PNS). The executive board of ASPN accepted nominations for colleagues with excellence in the subject matter of neuromodulation and physician education. This diverse group used peer-reviewed literature and, based on grading of evidence and expert opinion, developed critical consensus guides for training that all accredited fellowship programs should adopt. For each consensus point, transparency and recusal were used to eliminate bias, and an author was nominated for evidence grading oversight and bias control. Pain Education and Knowledge (PEAK) Consensus Guidelines for Neuromodulation sets a standard for neuromodulation training in pain fellowship training programs. The consensus panel has determined several recommendations to improve care in the United States for patients undergoing neuromodulation. As neuromodulation training in the United States has evolved dramatically, these therapies have become ubiquitous in pain medicine. Unfortunately, fellowship programs and the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) pain program requirements have not progressed training to match the demands of modern advancements. PEAK sets a new standard for fellowship training and presents thirteen practice areas vital for physician competence in neuromodulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott G Pritzlaff
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, University of California, Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Johnathan H Goree
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Jonathan M Hagedorn
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, USA
| | - David W Lee
- Fullerton Orthopedic Surgery Medical Group, Fullerton, CA, USA
| | | | - Sandy Christiansen
- Department of Anesthesiology and Perioperative Medicine, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Andrew Dudas
- Mays & Schnapp Neurospine and Pain, Memphis, TN, USA
| | | | - Christopher J Gilligan
- Division of Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Maged Guirguis
- Division of Pain Management, Ochsner Health, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Amitabh Gulati
- Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | | | | | | | - Kiran V Patel
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Donald and Barbara Zucker School of Medicine at Hofstra/Northwell, Northwell Health, Hempstead, NY, USA
| | | | - Samir J Sheth
- Interventional Pain Management, Sutter Health, Roseville, CA, USA
| | | | - Vinita Singh
- Department of Anesthesiology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Gregory Smith
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA
| | - Natalie H Strand
- Interventional Pain Management, Mayo Clinic, Scottsdale, AZ, USA
| | - Chau M Vu
- Evolve Restorative Center, Santa Rosa, CA, USA
| | - Tolga Suvar
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | | | | | - Michael S Leong
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative and Pain Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Timothy R Lubenow
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Alaa Abd-Elsayed
- Department of Anesthesiology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI, USA
| | | | - Dawood Sayed
- Department of Anesthesiology, Pain and Perioperative Medicine, University of Kansas, Kansas City, KS, USA
| | - Timothy R Deer
- The Spine and Nerve Center of the Virginias, Charleston, WV, USA
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