Chronic pain: identification, assessment and referral of patient with chronic pain syndrome

To promote implementation of appropriate care pathways for patients with chronic pain:

• define how patients with chronic pain can be identified
• define the situations in which referral to a pain clinic for assessment and management of chronic pain is required, using an evaluation by professionals outside such facilities
• define the content of the initial assessment within a pain clinic
• define the criteria to use when deciding whether to refer the patient following this initial assessment

To promote exchanges between professionals in pain clinics and professionals who refer patients to such facilities:

• define the information that should be communicated between professionals when referring patients to pain clinics and following initial assessment in such facilities