Our History

In 2005, The Montana Pain and Symptom Management Task Force (MPSMTF) was founded as a result of Senate Joint Resolution 28
passed by the Montana Legislature.

This resolution recognized the formation of a task force, staffed and funded by the American Cancer Society (ACS), which would
assess pain management practices and policies in Montana and make recommendations to improve pain management throughout the state.

The diverse, thirty-nine strong, Task Force worked for two years to conduct a convenience sample survey of 329 citizens, and review guidelines from prominent pain management organizations. As a result, the MPSMTF released a White Paper with the following recommendations:

Support efforts to create a Montana Pain Initiative
Address sustainability
Support initiatives that will conduct large-scale studies of patients, health care providers, and pain management systems in Montana
Integrate pain surveillance into existing statewide health monitoring systems
Build Institutional Commitments to Improving Pain and Symptom Management
Modify existing and adopt new policies that could enhance pain and symptom management in Montana
Require or encourage provider practice improvement education in pain and symptom management
Encourage licensing boards and professional associations to regularly inform licensees and members about pain management policies and guidelines
Encourage development of public education regarding effective pain management
Encourage development of public education regarding patient advocacy

A major recommendation by the MPSMTF was to launch the MTPI, by developing a strategic plan and governance structure, in order to engage the public, identify leadership, and improve public policy. The governance structure consists of an Executive Committee and an Advisory Council. The Advisory Council will have representatives from all of the healthcare associations and pain centers in Montana . An important step in the evolution of the MTPI has been to move from having the American Cancer Society serve only as its fiscal agent, to becoming a major project of ACS with the additional support that entails.

Also in April, 2007, the MTPI held its first public activity: a conference titled, "Politics of Pain: Improving Pain Management Policy in Montana." Seventy-five consumers, advocates and healthcare providers from across the State attended.

In July, 2007, the MTPI received funding for an 8-month project through a partnership grant from the Alliance of State Pain Initiatives and Lance Armstrong Foundation to improve pain management policies and structure in long-term care facilities, home health agencies, and rural community hospitals. We were pleased to have thirteen facilities participate by conducting a structural assessment, collecting patient surveys, attending a 2-day workshop in November, 2007. They implemented an action plan to improve pain management in their facility, and then returned for a 1-day workshop in March to present their experiences. Additionally, they reassessed their structure and patients.

Pain management specialists from the University of Wisconsin conducted the training, which also highlighted local specialists both in pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain management.

Each facility will receive a report which describes the results of an analysis of their pre- and post-action plan data, as well as comparing them to other similar facilities that have participated in the program. This program has been a great success in moving facilities from education to practice behavior change.

They met and faced challenges, learned where gaps in patient care existed, and have created various structure and policy changes to improve pain management. The investment in this program has been high, and all facilities indicated a desire to come together again in six months and share with each other their progress and challenges.

In September, 2007, with funding from the Lance Armstrong Foundation, and assistance from the Alliance of State Pain Initiatives, the MTPI held a strategic planning retreat facilitated by a national consultant. All but three of the original 39 members of the MPSMTF indicated interest in continued involvement in the Montana Pain Initiative. The retreat participants identified stakeholders, crafted a vision and mission statement, identified measurable objectives, discussed specific projects and activities, created a governance structure, addressed staffing needs, and created action plans.

In January, 2008, the MTPI held a teleweb conference and introduced the Executive Committee members: the chair, the vice chair/treasurer, medical director, program director, and the American Cancer Society liaison, as well as the governance structure, the strategic plan, the beta website, and the logo. As a result, stakeholders are volunteering to serve on committees.

In April, 2008, the MTPI distributed over 1000 copies of the White Paper to opinion leaders and stakeholders across the state.

Staff:

Kaye Norris, PhD, Program Director
Contract with the American Cancer Society
877-488-7723 or 406-728-1004, ext. 208

Executive Committee:

Randale Sechrest, MD, Chair
Montana Spine and Pain Center
Missoula, MT

Jean Forseth, Vice-Chair/Treasurer
Big Sky Hospice
Billings, MT

Kathryn Borgenicht, MD, Medical Director
Bozeman-Deaconess Hospital
Bozeman, MT

Kaye Norris, Ph.D., Program Director (Ex-facto)
Montana Pain Initiative
Missoula, MT

Kristin Nei, American Cancer Society Liaison
American Cancer Society
Missoula, MT

Sponsors of MTPI activity:

American Cancer Society, http://www.cancer.org/docroot/home/index.asp

Lance Armstrong Foundation, http://www.livestrong.org/site/c.khLXK1PxHmF/b.2660611/k.BCED/Home.htm

Alliance of State Pain Initiatives, http://www.aspi.wisc.edu/