At La Rabida, our mission is simple. We are dedicated to improving the lives of children who live with complex medical conditions, disabilities, and chronic illnesses. That includes managing the pain of our patients while they’re in the hospital. La Rabida’s Pain Committee strives to address all of our patients’ needs by acknowledging and treating pain in an appropriate manner.

“Pain is subjective and an individual’s inability to verbally communicate doesn’t mean he or she doesn’t experience pain,” explains Dr. Sarah Mitchell, Hospitalist at La Rabida Children’s Hospital. “Suffering occurs when the pain becomes overwhelming and the patient may no longer feel in control of the experience.”

Our Pain Committee is made up of a team of physicians, nurses, child life specialists, phlebotomists, clinicians, and therapists who all work to provide patients with the tools they need to stay on top of pain management. This interdisciplinary team uses a variety of physical, psychological, and pharmacological interventions to help patients manage their pain.

Pain doesn’t look or feel the same for every child, and it is essential that the course of action meets each patient’s unique needs.

“Pain comes in many different forms, all of which we see at La Rabida given the complexity of our patients,” says Dr. Mitchell. “Pain may be classified according to its duration, type of pain receptor involved, or specific diagnosis. Each pain experience is unique to the patient and requires a tailored approach to best achieve relief and minimize the associated trauma.”

From the time of admission, La Rabida’s care teams work directly with our patients and their families to find a treatment plan that is best suited to the patient and their needs. “We empower parents to advocate on behalf of their child’s well-being regarding pain and symptom management,” shares Dr. Mitchell. “We hope to help our patients and families develop resilience and also improve the quality of life of our patients.”

This story was featured in the November 2020 issue of eCurrents. Read the full issue here.