Introduction

Chronic pain is a leading reason to seek medical help and causes distress and disability for millions of Australians. 1 in 5 Australians including children and adolescents is affected by this silent epidemic, the numbers rise to 1 in 3 over the age of 65 years.

Aim

To address chronic pain for people living across 75,000 square kilometers, Lower Murray Medicare Local (LMML) established an innovative pain management service. The service extends from north-west Victoria and covers parts of rural outback New South Wales. The service model combines skills of local health providers and metropolitan clinicians working as a team.

Materials and Methods

A needs assessment conducted by LMML showed lack of access to chronic pain services in the region. The analysis highlighted 83% of respondents were dealing with chronic pain on a daily basis and only 27% were being managed with allied health. In a strategic response LMML established a pain service integrating local and metropolitan services. The model of care; a bio-psychosocial approach to chronic pain management.LMML service launched in June 2014 with the recruitment of multidisciplinary clinicians. The team involved  metropolitan pain physicans, nurse practitioner, locally-based service coordinator, oncologist, psychologist, physiotherapist, pharmacist, occupational therapists, podiatrist and yoga therapist. In October 2014 the service implemented Telehealth, fast-tracking of surgical intervention if required and access to complementary therapies.

Conclusion

To date 235 referrals from Victoria and New South Wales has been received and  40% of people managed in their own locality; thus reducing the tyranny of distance through  travel whilst supporting local practitioners to upskill in chronic pain management. Access to Chronic pain services is a significant gap in regional Australia.  The LMML approach to integrate local and metropolitan pain services is a successful model, one that maybe adapted in other areas of Australia.