Pain Management

* The systematic study of clinical and basic science and it's application for the reduction of pain and suffering;
* The blending of tools, techniques and principles taken from the discrete healing art disciplines and reformulated as a holistic application for the reduction of pain and suffering and;
* A newly emerging discipline emphasizing an interdisciplinary approach with a goal of reduction of pain and suffering.

AAPM
The American Academy of Pain Management is the largest multidisciplinary pain society and largest physician based pain society in the United States. The Academy is a nonprofit multidisciplinary credentialing society providing credentialing to practitioners in the are of pain management. The Academy holds full voting membership in the National Organization of Competency Assurance.

Credentialing by the Academy is dependent upon criteria related to education and experience. Credentialed individuals must meet rigorous standards regarding credentialing. A psychometrically valid test is required. The written examination adheres to "Standards for Educational and Psychometric Testing (1985)" and the uniform "Guidelines of Employee Selection Procedures (1978)." An applicant must demonstrate and provide documentation of experience n pain management and meet other standards established by the American Academy of Pain Management to ascertain professional behavior in pain management.

Credentialed clinicians must abide by the Code of Professional Conduct and a Patient Bill of Rights established by the Academy. Continuing education is mandated. Credentialed individuals must be recredentialed every four years.