About APS
APS Strategic Plan
In 2004, the APS Board of Directors began a structured evaluation of the society’s mission and strategic goals. Extensive effort was invested in redefining the mission, vision and values of the organization and these later provided the foundation for several rigorous board planning meetings to set goals and strategies to guide the organization for the near future.
The following plan provides a summary view of the results of the board’s planning efforts. The strategies in place are the basis of important new projects APS is funding for 2006-2007.
Mission
The American Pain Society is a multidisciplinary community that brings together a diverse group of scientists, clinicians and other professionals to increase the knowledge of pain and transform public policy and clinical practice to reduce pain-related suffering.
Vision
APS envisions a world where pain prevention and relief are available to all people.
Values
- Leadership: Research, Education, Policy, and Practice
- Integrity and Ethics
- Objectivity
- Integration
- Interdisciplinary
- Diversity
Strategic Goals
- Be recognized as the most credible and effective advocate for the prevention or relief of useless pain.
- Useless pain will be viewed as a major health problem.
- Promote interdisciplinary/multidisciplinary research to increase knowledge of pain and pain relief mechanisms.
- Promote research that translates knowledge about pain relief mechanisms into improvements in practice.
- Increase interdisciplinary communication, understanding and appreciation of the respective knowledge domains of researchers, clinicians and other professionals.
- To continually improve the knowledge base of current and future professionals who care for persons in pain.
- Increase access to appropriate care.
- Improve pain care in primary care practice.
2006-2007 Priorities
Priority 1
Goals:
- To be the most credible and effective advocate for the prevention or relief of useless pain.
- Increase interdisciplinary communication, understanding and appreciation of the respective knowledge domains of researchers, clinicians and other professionals.
- To continually improve the knowledge base of current and future professionals who care for persons in pain.
Strategy: Establish Centers of Excellence program to recognize pain centers across the country for clinical excellence.
Priority 2
Goal: Promote multidisciplinary research to increase knowledge of pain and pain relief mechanisms.
Strategy 1: Advocate for increased NIH funding for pain through support of the University of Utah study to identity gaps in NIH pain research funding.
Strategy 2: Leverage influence in Washington for legislative change through support of the National Pain Care Policy Act (H.R.1020).
Strategy 3: Continue dialogue with the NIH Pain Consortium through annual meetings, formalized communications mechanisms and the inclusion of an NIH representative on the APS Scientific Program Committee.
Priority 3
Goal: To be recognized as the most credible and effective advocate for the prevention or relief of useless pain.
Strategy 1: Revitalize the commitment to “balance” in ensuring access to controlled prescription drugs in the treatment of pain when medically necessary through active participation in the research effort of the National Pain Work Group.
Strategy 2: Engage in advocacy efforts (e.g., visits to representatives and senators) during Washington, DC annual scientific meeting in May, 2007
- Educate board members and others regarding political process
- Develop agenda regarding advocacy efforts to ensure a consistent message
- Evaluate efforts and establish mechanism for ongoing efforts
Priority 4
Goal: Promote research that translates knowledge about pain and pain relief mechanisms into improvements in practice.
Strategy: Create a task force of translational research experts to define translational research as it relates to pain; identify obstacles to translational pain research with possible solutions; list gaps in existing basic and clinical pain-related research; and describe how translational pain research might fit in the NIH roadmap, or serve as an exemplar for other translational efforts.
Priority 5
Goal: Promote multidisciplinary research to increase knowledge of pain and pain relief mechanisms.
Strategy 1: Increase scholarship support to member trainees and young investigators (5 years post-doc) who are focused on interdisciplinary research.
Strategy 2: Continue and expand the annual Future Leaders in Pain Small Research Grants.
Priority 6
Goal: To be the most credible and effective advocate for the prevention or relief of useless pain.
Strategy: Develop a comprehensive communications strategy and plan to address APS strategic goals.
Priority 7
Goal: To continually improve the knowledge base of current and future professionals (including students) who care for persons in pain.
Strategy 1: Fund an APS lecture at complementary organizations’ annual meetings.
Strategy 2: Revise and convert the Principles of Analgesic Use in Chronic and Cancer Pain into PDA format; make it widely available as a resource.
Strategy 3: Sponsor the North American Pain Forum regional meetings for primary care practitioners.