GOLDEN, Colo., Feb. 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ — The National Pain Foundation (NPF) announced today that it is being reformed as an independent, 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization to transform the way pain is fundamentally understood, assessed and treated for every human being.
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"We are resurrecting The National Pain Foundation because of the continued and unmet need for significantly more patient input into how pain is diagnosed and treated," said Daniel Bennett, MD, DABPM, of Denver, Colorado. Dr. Bennett founded NPF in 1998.
The foundation will give voice to 1.5 billion people in pain by creating digital communities where they can share their experiences and needs through surveys, forums and data collection means – what the foundation calls the "digital footprint of pain."
"We will effectively create the world's most comprehensive observational database of people in pain, their behaviors, their treatments and their needs. This will allow pain patients to actually participate in advancing how pain is understood and treated, versus being the misunderstood sufferers they have been for so long," Dr. Bennett added.
Through data collection and analyses of the "digital footprint of pain," The National Pain Foundation will:
- Bring about a true understanding of what pain is and whom it affects
- Educate the public and bring about better understanding of people in pain so they may be treated more fairly
- Enable researchers to advance pain treatments across socioeconomic and ethnic differences
- Develop true best practices for healthcare providers to deliver better care to people in pain
- Uncover reasons for increased vulnerability to pain due to income, education, age, gender and race
- Provide intelligence to industry on what products and treatments people in pain want and need
The foundation expects to attract funding from foundations, industry and individuals who have interest in improving the lives of those who suffer in pain.
The National Pain Foundation will be announcing some of its cornerstone activities in the coming months.
Pain Statistics:
- Affects 1.5 billion people globally
- Affects 100 million American adults
- Costs American society $635 Billion in lost productivity and medical treatment
- Affects more people than cancer, diabetes and heart disease combined
- The #1 reason people see a doctor is for a pain related issue
- There is an increased vulnerability to pain associated with gender, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, age, cancer and military veterans.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Ed Coghlan
818-489-4774