Acupuncture as Part of a Pediatric Pain Clinic in a Safety-Net Hospital: Acupuncture Wednesday

Abstract

Background: Chronic pain impacts 15%-20% of U.S. children. Integrative medicine (IM) services, including acupuncture, are used in many children's hospitals and pain clinics to address complex chronic-pain syndromes. However, few facilities specifically address chronic pain in underserved pediatric populations. Objective: The aim of this article is describe the process of establishing an integrative pediatric pain clinic that includes acupuncture therapy in a children's hospital, and to report acupuncture utilization during the first 6 months. Methods: A needs assessment was conducted, and its findings led to the assembly of an interdisciplinary integrative team and the establishment of the Pediatric Pain Clinic. Experience from an existing program for IM provided the infrastructure and model for the Pediatric Pain Clinic. Results: Thirty-six referrals were received, 26 patients underwent initial evaluations, 23 returned for follow-up visits, and 3 have ''graduated'' pain-free. Nineteen of the 26 patients received acupuncture/acupressure. Conclusions: A pediatric pain clinic that consists of interdisciplinary biomedical and integrative modalities, including acupuncture, can be successfully established in a safety-net hospital for children with complex pain. The success of an already-existing pediatric acupuncture service within an IM program helped to incorporate acupuncture seamlessly into the hospital's new Pediatric Pain Clinic.