Ask HRC: Discussing Expectations When Patients Provide Informed Consent for Pain Management

A Healthcare Risk Control (HRC) System member recently asked how detailed the informed consent discussion should be when patients who are taking controlled substances for chronic conditions are asked to sign a pain management or informed consent contract.

Providers should spend enough time on the discussion to go through the expectations on the form and to give the patient the opportunity to ask questions. Additionally, providers should be sure to document the counseling that occurred during the visit that accompanied the signature of this form. For example, documentation could state: *“Patient was presented Pain Management Agreement and Informed Consent for signature. After being provided time to read the form, patient verbalized understanding and was given...