Pain Medicine Fellowship
JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute
Pain Medicine Fellowship
The JFK Johnson Rehabilitation Institute (JRI) offers a one-year ACGME accredited fellowship opportunity in Pain Medicine. The fellowship is open to a board-eligible/board-certified physiatrist, anesthesiologist, neurologist, or psychiatrist. The fellowship is offered at JFK Medical Center and Roosevelt Care Center in Edison, New Jersey and University Pain Medicine in New Brunswick, NJ. These facilities are centrally located in the NY/NJ metropolitan area.
Fellowship Description
The pain medicine fellowship will provide the selected candidate exposure to a multidisciplinary pain program. The candidate will be prepared to practice all aspects of pain medicine and ultimately manage a comprehensive pain program.
Fellowship Objectives
The purpose of the fellowship program is to provide comprehensive pain medicine training. The learning objectives encompass the six core competencies and include training in a variety of areas of pain medicine including, acute pain, chronic pain, cancer pain, and hospice and palliative care.
Patient Care
Goal: The fellow will provide effective and compassionate care to patients with acute and chronic pain.
Objectives:
1. Learn and perform thorough assessments of patients in acute and chronic nonmalignant and malignant pain
2. Develop and implement treatment plans using clinical and scientific data and patient preference
3. Competently perform all medical and invasive procedures considered essential for managing pain which include, but not limited to:
i. Image-guided cervical, thoracic and lumbar spinal injections
ii. Minor and major joint or bursa injections
iii. Trigger point injections
iv. Sympathetic blocks
v. Neurolytic techniques including chemical and radiofrequency treatment for pain
vi. Intradiscal procedures including discography
vii. Spinal cord stimulators
viii. Placement of permanent spinal drug delivery systems
4. Communicate effectively with patients and their families
5. Achieve and document the required number of patient interactions required in each of the disciplines described in the ACGME Pain Medicine Fellowship Program Requirements
Medical Knowledge
Goal: The fellow will achieve detailed knowledge of the evaluation and management of pain patients. The fellow will learn to critically evaluate and demonstrate the ability to access scientific information.
Objectives:
1. Develop an analytical approach to clinical situations
2. Recognize and apply knowledge of clinical sciences that is appropriate to pain medicine
i. This includes, but no limited to, the topics stated in the ACGME Pain Medicine Fellowship Program Requirements
3. Incorporate the didactic teaching in the field of pain medicine into the management of their patients pain
4. Develop the ability to critically appraise evidence about treatment effectiveness as it relates to pain medicine
5. Deliver a monthly lecture on a topic in pain medicine
6. Engage in a research project designed to improve the field of pain medicine
Practice-based Learning and Improvement
Goal: The fellow will investigate and evaluate patient care practices, appraise and assimilate scientific evidence, and initiate improvement in patient care.
Objectives:
1. Utilize their personal faculty, ancillary staff and patient evaluations to assess the effectiveness of patient care activities
2. Incorporate evidence from scientific studies relating to the treatment of pain into the patient’s treatment plan
3. Use information technology to support medical decision-making processes
4. Participate in monthly journal clubs designed to examine scientific studies and utilize information technology
5. Interact with the professional, technical, and clerical personnel as it relates to patient care
6. Participate in quality assurance/improvement efforts
7. Complete the research module in conjunction with the physical medicine and rehabilitation residents
Interpersonal and Communication Skills
Goal: The fellow will learn to demonstrate interpersonal and communication skills that result in effective information exchange with patients, their families, and professional associates.
Objectives:
1. Work with faculty, colleagues, and support staff in an efficient, courteous manner that facilitates patient care
2. Develop an ethically sound relationship with patients and their families
3. Communicate with patients and their families in a manner they can comprehend
4. Complete the diversity training module
Professionalism
Goal: The fellow will learn to demonstrate a commitment to carrying out professional responsibilities, adherence to organizational and ethical principles, and demonstrate sensitivity to diverse patient population.
Objectives:
1. Maintain a professional appearance
2. Observe HIPAA regulations at all times
3. Apply professional and ethical principles to the practice of medicine
4. Demonstrate sensitivity and responsiveness to patient’s culture, age, gender, religion, sexual preference, socioeconomic status, beliefs, behaviors and disabilities
5. Practice medicine that ensures patient safety
6. Treat the anxious or distressed patient and/or family member with respect, compassion, integrity and kindness
Systems-based Practice
Goal: The fellow will demonstrate an awareness of, and responsiveness to, the larger context and system of healthcare and be able to call on system resources to provide care that is of optimal value to their patients.
Objectives:
1. Provide clear and thorough documentation of the patient evaluation, including information from previous medical records
2. Obtain appropriate medical records from other facilities
3. Practice cost-effective healthcare that does not compromise quality of care
4. Learn business skills necessary for effective practice management
5. Complete the Medicare billing training module
Curriculum
1. Neurology Clinic
2. Interventional procedures
3. Consultation service
4. Cancer pain
5. Continuity clinic
6. Chronic pain clinic
7. Acute pain clinic
8. Psychiatry clinic
9. Neurosurgery
10. Electrodiagnosis
11. Palliative Care
Research
The fellow is required to complete at least one research project during their training. Submitting their research for poster presentations and/or publications is strongly encouraged.
For more information about the program