Why Choose Us?
The Division of Pain Management at Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center is one of a small number of such programs in the United States, and is one of the most comprehensive programs in the country. In 2007, The American Pain Society presented the Division of Pain Management its Clinical Center of Excellence Award for multidisciplinary pain care. Our ongoing Quality Improvement process is among the most active and complete of any pediatric pain center anywhere, and helps us focus on maintaining the highest level of care and service to our patients and their families.
We have organized the program to provide the best possible pain care for infants, children, and young adults.
Acute Pain Service | Chronic Pain Service | PACT (Palliative Care) l Procedural Management Program | Regional Anesthesia Program | Family Center Care
Acute Pain Service
The acute pain service is available to children at Cincinnati Children's who have medical or surgical conditions that cause pain. You can ask your pediatrician or surgeon if involving our team would be helpful. We have helped the hospital organize a better approach to pain care for all children, so even if you do not see us in person, our touch will be there.
Back to Top
Chronic Pain Service
For children and young adults who have long-standing pain problems, we have a chronic pain clinic just for them. The Division of Pain Management at Cincinnati Children's has designed a multidisciplinary clinic to help treat pain from a variety of causes. Each patient sees a psychologist, pain physician, advanced practice nurse, and physical therapist. Each is specially trained and experienced in working with children who have painful conditions.
Back to Top
Palliative Care
For children with long-term, life-limiting diseases, or those with terminal illnesses, the Pediatric Palliative and Comfort Care Team (PACT) provides support, symptom management, education, guidance, and coordination of care. PACT works closely with the StarShine Hospice program. Even when things look their worst, we never give up on a child or their family. We work with them to give comfort and to help provide them the best quality of life in the child's remaining time.
Back to Top
Procedural Management Program
Children with leukemia and cancer have a difficult road to travel. We make their path a little easier by providing sedation and anesthesia for the painful tests they need, such as bone marrow aspirations and lumbar punctures. The younger children need help holding still for radiation treatments, and we help at those times, too. We work very closely with the Hematology/Oncology programs to make sure each child gets through with the least discomfort and fear possible. We are currently expanding our services to help children undergoing difficult fracture reductions in Orthopedic clinic, special cases of PICC line insertion, and a variety of other painful procedures that are part of care in the hospital.
Back to Top
Regional Anesthesia Program
The ability to make a selected part of the body numb for a period of time can be a great advantage after some surgeries. By blocking the feeling in a nerve to a specific part of the body, less medication is needed. With less medication in the patient’s system, side effects like nausea and sleepiness are reduced. The pain that comes from operations on the arms, legs, genitals and lower abdomen can be reduced for hours to a few days by nerve blocks and nerve block catheters. Members of the Regional Anesthesia program are available to patients coming to the operating room for these surgeries. The advantages of and alternatives to the nerve blocks will be discussed with you before any surgery for which these pain-relieving injection might be helpful.
Back to Top
Family-Centered Care
The Pain Management Division at Cincinnati Children's is dedicated to providing comprehensive, compassionate and respectful care to every patient and family. Our team of experts offers individualized care and attention. In 2008, the PACT was recognized as a finalist in the Family Centered Care award, by the Family Advisory Council of CCHMC. The director of the PACT, Dr. Norbert Weidner, received the individual award for Family Centered Care the same year.
Back to Top
