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general information: pain management clinic

INTRODUCTION

You have been referred for an appointment at the Pain Management Clinic of the St. Maarten Medical Center (SMMC). In this brochure, you will find information about the procedure surrounding your appointment, our working method and our treatment options. There is additional space for your notes at the back of this brochure.

1. Registration, preparation and procedure

1.1 Course of events: From registration to the first appointment

You have been referred to our Pain Management Clinic by your Specialist or General Practitioner because of chronic pain or pain associated with cancer. Once you’ve obtained a referral letter, you can make an appointment. After you make your appointment, you will be asked to fill out a questionnaire. We use this questionnaire to efficiently map out your history and current situation as it pertains to pain and encompasses all aspects that may be important in the development and persistence of chronic pain. Please fill out the questionnaire in advance so we have a good overview when you come to the Pain Management Clinic for your appointment.

1.2 Preparing for an outpatient clinic visit

Before you come to SMMC, you can prepare for the Outpatient Clinic visit by writing down your complaints and questions, if necessary, so that you remember to address them. You should also bring the following items:

  • Your appointment confirmation (if you have already received an appointment card);
  • Your proof of identity;
  • An overview of your medicines over the past five years. You can ask your General Practitioner or Pharmacy for this.

1.3 Our working method

The starting point for our method is the bio-psycho-social pain model; this means that we assume that pain is not just a physical problem but one that also has psychological and social (psychosocial) consequences which can influence pain perception. Experience shows that the longer pain exists, the greater its impact on your way of life. In fact, these consequences themselves can adversely affect the pain. Out of this, a vicious circle arises which no longer seems to be broken. All physical, psychological and social factors that can play a role in the development or maintenance of chronic pain are included in the diagnosis and treatment.

We strive to achieve the maximum result for you with the simplest treatment possible. Most patients who come to the Pain Management Clinic expect that their pain can be completely relieved, however, this expectation is often not fully realized, especially with chronic pain. Our goal is to make the pain manageable and to guide you in learning to deal with the pain in such a way that it no longer controls your life.

2 The day of your appointment

2.1 Registration

Please arrive 30 minutes before your scheduled appointment time to register. Upon arriving at SMMC, a host/hostess will direct you to the correct registration window. For registration purposes, please present a valid form of ID such as a passport or ID card, a valid referral letter for the Pain Management Clinic, an accepted insurance card and a guarantee letter if applicable. If you need more information about registration requirements, please call +1 (721) 543-1111 extension 1350 or 2596.

2.2 Waiting times

At the Pain Management Clinic, we aim to be punctual and we kindly ask the same of you. If you arrive late, it means that the appointment of the patients scheduled after you will also run late. In the event of an emergency or a delay due to unforeseen circumstances, the assistant will inform you of this in a timely manner.

2.3 The first appointment

During your first appointment, the Anesthesiologist/Pain Management Specialist will discuss your complaints, history, previous treatments and use of medication. A physical examination also usually takes place. Additional tests (blood tests, X-rays, MRI) will only be arranged if necessary. Based on the diagnosis, the Pain Management Specialist will draw up a treatment plan and discuss this with you.

2.4 Treatment options

There are different types of pain treatment. The Anesthesiologist/Pain Management Specialist will discuss the most suitable treatment with you. Treatment options are:

  • Treatment with drugs aimed at reducing pain, such as pain killers, anti-inflammatories, medicines for nerve pain or muscle tension reduction;
  • Treatment with drugs that reduce the perception of pain in the brain, such as strong pain killers (e.g., morphine);
  • Nerve block, which reduces or interrupts the transmission of pain to the brain;
  • Transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TENS), which is a device that connects to the skin with patches and delivers safe and gentle electrical currents through the skin, reducing the transmission of pain to the brain.

2.5 Treatment proposal

When the Anesthesiologist/Pain Management Specialist finds sufficient starting points during the first appointment to expect an effect from one or more of the aforementioned options for treatment, they will make a treatment proposal. In some cases, multidisciplinary consultations are necessary to arrive at a suitable treatment proposal. If necessary, you will receive prescriptions for medication directly from the doctor.

Follow-up appointments for treatment and/or check-up are made with the assistant who will also tell you where any treatment will take place and give you explanations. In most cases, information brochures about the proposed treatment are available so that you can read everything again at home.

2.7 Notification to General Practitioner and Specialist

We will notify your (referring) General Practitioner and/or Specialist of our findings and treatment plan to keep them informed of your situation.

3 Additional information

If you have any questions or if you would like more information, please contact the Outpatient Department using the information at the back of this brochure.

• The Policlinic days are Tuesdays and Wednesdays.

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