November 29, 2007
Chronic pain is a major issue among military personnel and veterans, and pain intensity is worse among veterans than the general public. Although today's body armor and rapid evacuation to medical care saves lives, personnel returning from the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan face challenges not seen from other wars. While U.S. military medical care is among the best in the world, there are still long-term problems with managing disability and chronic pain.
To help raise awareness of this issue, Hyde Park Communications worked with the American Pain Foundation to hold a briefing on the issue of veterans and chronic pain, and on recently introduced federal legislation to improve pain care services, research, education and training in the Department of Defense and Department of Veterans Affairs. The event was made possible through an unrestricted educational grant from Endo Pharmaceuticals.
Featured speakers, included:
- Will Rowe, executive director, American Pain Foundation
- Rollin M. Gallagher, M.D., M.P.H, director of pain management, Department of Anesthesiology, Philadelphia VA Center
- Adrian Atizado, assistant national legislative director, Disabled American Veterans
- 2nd Lt. Mark Little, U.S. Army, Iraq war veteran
- Brenda Murdough, M.S.N., R.N.-C., coordinator of the Military Veterans Initiative, American Pain Foundation and certified nurse specialist in pain management.
The event was attended by veterans' organizations and patient advocacy groups, and received national media attention. For more information about the American Pain Foundation's Military/Veterans Pain Initiative, please visit http://www.painfoundation.org/.