Chronic Pain: When to Refer?-CME Paid Option

This monthly session offers a comprehensive review of the transition from acute to chronic pain after surgery. It explores the typical timeframes and various definitions of persistent post-surgical pain (PPSP) and opioid use, providing a deeper understanding of PPSP's distinct features. Participants will learn to recognize its manifestations as neuropathic, nociceptive, mixed, or central sensitization. A significant portion of this session will be dedicated to outlining the diverse treatment options pain specialists offer for PPSP, emphasizing a biopsychosocial approach. This includes a discussion of non-opioid medications, physical therapy, interventional procedures, and the role of pain psychology. Ultimately, this program aims to equip attendees with the knowledge to identify when referral to a pain specialist is most appropriate, which will help improve patient outcomes and lessen the burden of chronic post-surgical pain.

Target Audience

Iowa Surgical providers

Clinical teams

Learning Objectives

Analyze the general time frames for the transition from acute, subacute, to chronic pain after surgery, and the varying definitions of persistent post-surgical pain and opioid use. 

Recognize features of persistent post-surgical pain as neuropathic, nociceptive, mixed, or central sensitization.

Describe treatment options that pain specialists can offer for the treatment of persistent post-surgical pain in the context of a biopsychosocial approach including non-opioid medications, physical therapy, interventions, and pain psychology. Specifically, the pathway of interventions for the diagnosis and treatment of neuropathic pain will be discussed in the context of specific operations.

Course summary
Available credit: 
  • 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™
Course opens: 
10/09/2025
Course expires: 
10/10/2028
Cost:
$25.00
Rating: 
0

Jennifer Hah, MD, MS

As an anesthesiologist, pain medicine specialist, and clinical epidemiologist, my research interests span development of novel psychotherapeutic interventions at the intersection of pain, prescription opioid addiction, and psychology. As an NIH-funded researcher I am working to develop novel interventions (behavioral, medical technology, medical device) to prevent continued pain and opioid use after surgery. My clinical interests include treatment of chronic pelvic pain conditions including painful bladder syndrome/interstitial cystitis, endometriosis, pelvic floor myofascial pain, pudendal neuralgia, peripheral nerve entrapments, pelvic adhesions, vulvodynia, and chronic constipation.

Continuing Medical Education (CME)

Accreditation: This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Iowa Medical Society (IMS). Compass Healthcare Collaborative is accredited by the IMS to provide continuing medical education for physicians. 

Designation: Compass designates this live activity for a maximum of 0.5 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™ Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. 

Commercial Support: This activity was developed without support from any ineligible company. *The ACCME defines ineligible companies as those whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients. Note: The ACCME does not consider providers of clinical service directly to patients to be commercial interests unless the provider of clinical services is owned, or controlled by, and ACCME defined ineligible company. 

Disclosure: Compass adheres to the Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education. The content of this activity is not related to products or the business lines of an ACCME-defined ineligible company. None of the planners or moderators for this educational activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose with ineligible companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing products used by or on patients.

Note: AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ are accepted for nursing and other healthcare discipline license renewal purposes, provided the topic is relevant to the applicant’s field or discipline. After participating, you will receive a Certificate of Attendance detailing the number of AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™ you can claim. This certificate is provided for self-reporting requirements and must be submitted to your state board for license renewal.

Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) Credit Designation: Improvement Activity (IA): This activity qualifies for MIPS credit as an Improvement Activity. Participants who successfully completed the activity are eligible for full credit for the Improvement Activities category of the MIPS program. Note: Each provider must attest to your participation and practice changes on the CMS QPP website, but you can reference the MIPS verbiage noted below. 

Activity Type: Patient Safety and Practice Assessment (IA_PSPA_CME): 

Activity ID: IA_PSPA_28: Completion of an Accredited Safety or Quality Improvement Program.

  • Documentation includes:
    • Meaningful clinician participation in a project focused on improving pain management.
    • Documentation of data collection and analysis regarding prescribing patterns.
    • Implementation of interventions to improve quality or safety.
    • Measurement of the impact of the interventions. 

Available Credit

  • 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™

Price

Cost:
$25.00
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Fees are charged solely for individuals seeking Continuing Medical Education (CME) credits. All educational materials are provided at no cost and are freely accessible regardless of CME participation.