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North Shore Hospital launches inpatient chronic pain consultation service

The Island Now
From left: Robert Duarte, M.D.; Maria Giraldo-Sorrentino, N.P., and Mary Milano Carter, N.P., conduct a pain consultation with a patient who received spine surgery. Photo Courtesy of Northwell Health.

North Shore University Hospital (NSUH) has launched a comprehensive inpatient chronic pain consultation service to ensure that patients with complex pain conditions are provided the highest quality of care. The multidisciplinary team of specialists is specifically trained to diagnose and manage chronic pain patients who undergo surgical procedures or have chronic pain caused by underlying medical conditions such as cancer, musculoskeletal and neurological disorders.

NSUH’s chronic pain consultation service will also work collaboratively with Northwell Health’s Patient & Family Centered Care team, which offers many complementary therapies including reiki therapy, aromatherapy, pet therapy, meditation and guided imagery.The consultation service is staffed by two nurse practitioners, Mary Milano Carter, NP and Maria Giraldo-Sorrentino, NP, along with a team of eight collaborating pain physicians from neurology, anesthesiology and physiatry.

“We have tremendous support from Northwell Health’s acute pain and palliative care services, addiction psychiatry and hospitalists to improve the quality of care and satisfaction of patients and their families,” said Michael Gitman, MD, the hospital’s medical director.

The program was launched under the guidance and leadership of Dr. Gitman; John DiCapua, MD, chairman of anesthesiology; Robert A. Duarte, MD, director of Northwell Health’s Pain Center; Steven Pacia, MD, vice chairman of neurology; and, Adam Stein, MD, chairman of physical medicine and rehabilitation.

Northwell Health providers will be able to initiate a chronic pain consultation through the health system’s Sunrise database. “The consultation will provide the most comprehensive pain evaluation offering a detailed assessment with recommendations from appropriate pain medicine prescribing to complementary interventions,” said Dr. Duarte. “In addition to the initial consult, chronic pain patients will be followed throughout their hospital stay. Upon discharge, continuity of care with an outpatient provider will be arranged.”

Submitted by Northwell Health.

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