Training of the Pain Medicine Specialist in the USA

摘要

Over the last 30 years, the field of Pain Medicine has become one of the most dynamic areas of medicine. A recent report of the Institute of Medicine states that pain affects approximately 100 million Americans at an estimated annual economic cost of $560-635 billion and is overall poorly treated. One reason identified is that Pain Medicine is not officially recognized and organized as a medical specialty. It is represented by a fragmented series of sub-specialties, responsible for the provision of uneven patient care. Recognition of Pain Medicine by the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) would be a major factor in organizing this new discipline and would add credibility among peers and the public at large.