1  The EMP meets the criteria of the International Association for the Study of Pain (IASP) for a multidisciplinary pain management program. Few programs do.  This requires that a physician, as well as allied health practitioners, is directly involved in the group treatment program. The program should be involved in research and education. [Click Here to Download pdf file of IASP criteria for pain programs].  The IASP defines the gold standard of treatrment and the EMP meets this standard.

2  There are few of these programs in Ontario.  However, current research indicates that a bone fide multidisciplinary pain management program offers patients struggling with chronic non-cancer pain (CNCP), the best opportunity to improve their level of function, quality of life and productivity.   Below are examples of literature on the subject.

a     The Spine Journal . 2003; 3:270-276 
b     SPINE . 2003; Volume 28 (17):1913-1921
c     Am. J. Phys. Med. Rehabil . 2006; Vol. 85 (8):659-666

3  EMP conducts rigorous outcome research that is utilized to made changes to the program that has improved outcome. The program is in a constant state of flux, based on this outcome data. In this way, the staff ensure that the best treatment possible, is provided to all patients.

4  EMP provides treatment in the community. It does not utilize any equipment that patients cannot access once the program is completed. The programs utilized can be accessed by patients once the program is complete.  This increases follow-through at discharge and thereafter. 

5  EMP is associated with an after care group organized and run by patients of the program. This group was started by patients in the program in 2001. The focus of the group is on how patient's can improve their day to day life. No patient is admitted to this group unless they have completed one of the treatment programs at the EMP.

6  EMP offers a number of programs, based on the need and status of a patient. These programs include:


� 15 Week Multidisciplinary Pain Management Program
� 10 week cognitive behavioural exercise program
� 10 week intensive, early intervention program (new)
� Individualized multidisciplinary pain management program
� Individual psychotherapy-cognitive behavioural

7  Currently, EMP is the only multidisciplinary program in this region that treats all patients regardless of whether they have third party funding or not. No hospital offers such treatment to patients without such funding. EMP receives no government funding or grants. It utilizes the funds made available by those patients with third party funding, to support the treatment of patients whose chronic noncancer pain is not accident related. Through the support of referring health care practitioners and legal representatives EMP has never turned a patient away due to lack of funding. This patient population gets access to occupational therapy, physiotherapy, nutritionists, nurse practioner, aqua-therapists and tai chi instructors without any cost being incurred by them or the community.
 
8  The EMP offers learning experiences for students in health care.  It is one of the few programs where students can develop skills in group therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy, and the pharmacotherapeutic management of patients with chronic pain.

9  When Dr. Ennis first developed the EMP service it was under the condition that the program had to provide treatment to patients who do not have third party funding. As he stated, "It could just as easily be me or someone I care about that needs treatment.  Access to treatment should not be contingent on whether or not a profit can be made."