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Hospice Pharm.D. earns certified pain educator status

by jmaloni

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Mon, Aug 3rd 2015 03:55 pm

Niagara Hospice Director of Clinical Pharmacy Services Robert G. Wahler, Pharm.D., CPE, recently became a certified pain educator by the American Society of Pain Educators. Wahler is a University at Buffalo clinical assistant professor of pharmacy.

A pain educator is a health care professional who provides education about pain assessment, evaluation and management through consults within a clinical practice or via formal presentations and direct contact with other health care professionals and/or patients. Pain educators practice in a wide range of health care settings, including medical and dental practices, hospitals, rehabilitation services, hospice and palliative-care facilities, nursing homes, physical and occupational-therapy practices and chiropractic offices.

Upon receiving CPE status from ASPE, Wahler said, "I'm very enthused about accomplishing this status. The mission of ASPE is exactly what I practice on a daily basis. Education is the best way to alleviate both the fear of pain and the many concerns that individuals have about the medications used for pain. Nothing provides greater professional satisfaction than knowing that I helped take a patient from suffering severe, unrelenting pain to attaining a peaceful state that's free from significant pain."

The American Society of Pain Educators is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit professional organization dedicated to improving pain management through the education and training of health care professionals to become certified pain educators. As the only organization focusing on pain educator training, the society teaches health care professionals to serve as resources to educate their clinical peers, as well as patients, families and caregivers, on ways to relieve pain by the safest means possible.

ASPE members are the frontline practitioners when it comes to treating pain. They are "go-to" resources in their practices and organizations, imparting evidence-based guidelines, translating care plans and monitoring for safety, efficacy and adherence. They are charged with delivering better health outcomes.

Wahler is the first certified pain educator in Western New York.

Niagara Hospice President and CEO John Lomeo said, "We are privileged to have Dr. Wahler on our team. His expertise and CPE status is a valued asset to our clinicians and to our patients who have the benefit of his specialized training and experience."

More information about the American Society of Pain Educators can be found on its website at www.paineducators.org.

For more information on local services, visit www.NiagaraHospice.org or call 716-HOSPICE.

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