About Persistent Pain 
Persistent Pain is a considerable and ever growing public health issues. One in five Australians live with persistent pain including adolescents and children. This prevalence rises to one in three for people over the age of 65. Untreated, this can lead to significant disability. When pain lasts longer than three months, things need to change. Medicines are no longer as helpful as they once were, and in some situations can be quite harmful. We now know that effective management options are based on knowledge of how pain works in the body and on your personal situation. One in five GP consultations involves a patient with persistent/chronic pain and 10% report severe persistent pain.
Early intervention and adoption of evidence-based treatments that provide access to effective pain assessment, prevention, self-management and non-pharmacological pain management can reduce the physical, emotional and economic cost burden of persistent pain in our community.
Our Program – The Persistent Pain Program
The Persistent Pain Program – Turning pain into Gain is a community based multidisciplinary initiative that offers specialised biopsychosocial support in partnership with your regular GP, providing access to:
- Comprehensive Pain Assessment
- Personalised Pain Treatment Plan and supplementary allied health Support.
- Team Care Coordination
- Structured Group Education and Online Pain Resources
For most people with persistent pain, it is best to have your GP support you in managing your pain, with additional assistance from the right health care team around you.
The program does not seek to cure or eliminate pain but instead aims to help you improve your ability to live well despite the pain. The program does not provide pain specialists or surgical services.
Credits: Joyce McSwan – Managing Dircetor, PainWISE Pty Ltd.
The program consist of multiple components carefully tailored to meet client needs. This includes individual clinical facilitation to develop and case manage a pain plan with patients usual GP and other healthcare teams. This is complemented with access to individual allied health consultations and face-to-face/online group education.
Eligibility
The program is free for clients to access and they can be referred if:
- Patient has experienced persistent pain that has lasted for more than 3-6 months.
- Be at least 16 years of age.
- Patient is not suitable for surgical or urgent pain specialist intervention.
- Patient requires improved self-management strategies and skills to optimise their ongoing care.
- Patient is able to participate in group or online education.
- Have an English language proficiency to understand the written and verbal materials being presented.
- Is not recieving other funding support (i.e. Workers Comp).
- Be able to give voluntary informed consent.
Exclusions: Palliative cancer pain, unstable mental health conditions, incarcerated individuals, or those already under specialist pain care. Exceptions may apply.
How do i get referred?
Referrals can be made by GP, Allied Health Professionals. If you do not have a GP referral, contact the persistent pain team.
Once the referral form is completed, fax a copy to (08) 9458 0555 or email ppp@archehealth.com.au
For all other enquiries email us at ppp@archehealth.com.au
This program is supported by funding from the Australian Government PHN program through the WA Primary Health Alliance (WAPHA).
