Teva announces ‘Design for Dialogue’ pain management initiative

FRAZER, Pa. — Teva on Tuesday announced its latest initiative, Design for Dialogue, which it said seeks to foster communication about pain management between healthcare providers and patients living with pain. The program, which is featured on Teva’s PainMatters.com, asks individuals living with pain and providers to design the ideal experience in the exam room that would foster dialogue about prescription drug abuse, deterrent technology and the effect of pain.

“Effective communication is essential to achieving positive patient outcomes and experiences, and it provides the basis for establishing strong provider-patient relationships,” Laura Cooley, education director at the American Academy on Communication in Healthcare said. “Design for Dialogue sheds light on how the exam room environment, from the aesthetics to provider–patient interaction, can hinder communications, and offers practical resources to help foster a more open dialogue.”

Teva recently conducted a survey in partnership withte American Academy of Pain Management and the U.S. Pain Foundation, which found that both patients and providers know the importance of addressing the issue of prescription drug abuse, but admit that it can be an uncomfortable subject to broach. Design for Dialogue is asking for simple changes that could change that dynamic — wall color, lighting, furniture and flooring, as well as resources available in the exam room can all be chosen at PainMatters.com. The company is accepting feedback until Dec. 31

“We understand the need for innovative solutions to address some of the complex challenges facing pain care today, including the impact of pain and the risks of prescription drug abuse,” Teva CNS VP and general manager John Hassler said. “Design for Dialogue is another example of our commitment to the pain community to bring practical information and resources to healthcare professionals and people with pain to help advance responsible pain management.”