Perspectives on Prescribing Pain Medication

Host: Mark Nolan Hill, MD Guest: Howard Heit, MD Pain is generally considered to be the most common reason our patients come to see us. Yet it's a phenomenon that we don't fully understand and one that varies widely from patient to patient. With regard to the prescription of potent painkillers like methadone, should the often cryptic nature of pain warrant additional pain management training for practitioners ordering these meds? Dr. Howard Heit, a nationally recognized chronic pain and addiction medicine specialist practicing in northern Virginia, and an assistant clinical professor at the Georgetown University School of Medicine, joins host Dr. Mark Nolan Hill to address the challenges of properly prescribing pain medication. What grade would Dr. Heit give our profession for our overall performance on pain management, and how can we improve that evaluation?