Health

HEALTH • Spring 2018 17 InterGlobal Medical Call Center A division of InterGlobal Communication Group Providing the best in customer service through: Inbound /Outbound Call Center Support Automated Reminder Calls Pa ent Discharge & Pa ent Surveys Call Overflow Support 24 x 7 Call Support Pa ent Referrals Physician, Insurance & Hospital Call Center Services And More….. 360 degrees of Pa ent, Member and Customer Sa sfac on ...Trusted...Affordable...Reliable... (508) 438—2600 www.InterGlobalmedcc.com Prescription red flags Doctors in Massachusetts are prescribing fewer opioids thanks to new regulations limiting their use and a revamped prescription monitoring system that providers use to track potential cases of abuse. The rate of activity of concern among people receiving opioids has declined by more than half since 2013. *Rate is per 1,000 patients Source: Massachusetts Department of Public Health H cy five years ago, is a believer in holistic treatment for people living with chronic pain, so the approach includes complementary healthcare services, such as physical therapy, exercise, acupuncture and cognitive behavioral therapy. Therapy, she noted, may be partic- ularly helpful, as patients with chron- ic pain often have underlying depres- sion or other psychological problems that need addressing. Katie Adams, director of Mental Health Services at Harrington, has a particular interest in helping patients cope with chronic pain, having trained in the mind-body connection. Adams said often, people seek mental health services after struggling emo- tionally from the fallout of chronic pain, such as losing a job. In receiving cognitive behavioral therapy, patients relearn how to think about and react to pain, which helps them manage it better, Adams said. "I don't think they come to therapy expecting its going to be a treatment for chronic pain, but I think more often than not, it does play a role" in reducing pain, Adams said. Some barriers But actually getting patients in the chair, or even the Pain Center, can be a challenge to begin with. Mason, the pain specialist, said there are some- times issues with insurance coverage. Doctors must demonstrate the other pain procedures, like injections, are needed because other methods, like pills, weren't effective. Meanwhile, patients might not like the idea of trying something new, particularly if they're already dependent on opioids. "Once patients are on opioids, it's very difficult to convince them that they can live without them," Mason said. Regs drive down abuse Julie Capozzi, associate professor of psychology and sociology at Mount Wachusett Community College and chair of the college's new Substance Abuse Counseling Certificate pro- gram, is also a big believer in mindfulness, and how it can be used to help people overcome addiction. But she thinks pre- vention is the best way to avoid addiction, and to that end, she's encouraged by new laws regulating opioids signed into law by Baker in 2016. In addition to prescribing limits, Capozzi said the Baker Administration's move to revamp the state prescription monitoring system that can detect instances of pill-seek- Julie Capozzi, associate professor of psychology and sociology, Mount Wachusett Community College ing behavior and possible overpre- scription, has been an important key in tackling abuse. Capozzi said she hopes decreased access to opioids will lead patients to other pain management methods. "We need to get people to realize there are alternatives," Capozzi said. '13 0 3 6 9 12 15 Rate of individuals with concerning activity* '14 '15 '16 '17 14.3 6.3 Pain management specialists offer injection and ablation therapy as alternatives to prescription pain medication, which doctors say is ineffective for long-term pain relief. P H O T O / E D D C O T E

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