Pain Foundations
As a health care provider, the current tools for managing chronic pain might feel incomplete. Pain Foundations is designed to bridge that gap, empowering you to move from clinical observation to compassionate partnership.
Our compact, online program offers you the keys to unlock more effective, clinically relevant outcomes for your patients.
Our compact, online program offers you the keys to unlock more effective, clinically relevant outcomes for your patients.
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Audience
Health Professionals
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10 Modules
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Duration
18 hours
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Certificate
Upon Completion
Learning outcomes
This program is rooted in trauma-informed care and collaborative communication so that you can support a person living with pain. By the end of this journey, you will be equipped to:
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Honor the individual: Recognize pain as a complex, subjective reality unique to every human being.
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Translate the science: Master the biology of the nervous system to provide patients with clear, actionable insights into their chronic pain.
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Lead with equity: Identify and dismantle the stigma and systemic barriers such as ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status that prevent marginalized voices from being heard.
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Build bridges: Practice the culturally safe communication skills essential for a resilient therapeutic partnership.
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Collaborative care: Shift from prescribing medication to collaborating on pain assessments and total pain management plans.
Why you should take this program
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Clinically relevant: Non-pharmacological approaches to managing chronic pain are more important than ever. Developed in consultation with clinical experts and people living with pain, Pain Foundations will enable you to gain foundational knowledge in chronic pain and pain management and serves as a basis for more advanced learning.
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Brought to you by Canada’s pain experts: Pain Foundations was developed by Pain BC, a national and international leader in chronic pain. We offer Pain BC Certification, a stamp of quality recognized around the world.
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Free, online, compact and self-paced: Learn at your own pace and from the comfort of your home or office, with minimal time from your practice, family and life.
Frequently asked questions
What is the course format?
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Pain Foundations is a free, online-only, self-paced course with no live sessions.
What is the timeline to complete courses?
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You will have access to complete the course for 6 months from your registration date.
How long does it take to complete the modules?
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Pain Foundations Basic Modules 1-3: approximately 5 hours
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Pain Foundations Advanced Modules 4-10: approx. 13 hours
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Pain Foundations Capstone: approximately 1.5 hours
Is Pain Foundations certified or accredited?
Certification
There is a certificate for the Basic Modules 1-3 and individual certificates for each of the Advanced Modules 1-10. After completing the relevant content and module post-survey(s), you can download your certificate from the course player. You may use the Pain Foundations certificates to earn CME credits if they are accepted by your college or professional association.
Accreditation
Pain Foundations is not accredited by any accrediting bodies.
Accreditation
Pain Foundations is not accredited by any accrediting bodies.
What topics are covered in Pain Foundations Basics modules?
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Pain Foundations Basic - Pre-learning Survey
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Pain Foundations Basic - Module 1 - Introduction to Pain Foundations
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Pain Foundations Basic - Module 2 - Exploring Pain Beyond Body and Mind
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Pain Foundations Basic - Module 3 - Living with Pain
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Pain Foundations Basic - Post-learning Survey & Certification
What topics are covered in Pain Foundations Advanced and Capstone modules?
Pain Foundations Advanced Modules (you must complete Modules 1-3 to access)
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Pain Foundations Advanced Module 4 - Pain Physiology
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Pain Foundations Advanced Module 5 - Biopsychosocial Pain Assessment in Clinical Settings
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Pain Foundations Advanced Module 6 - Collaborative Pain Care
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Pain Foundations Advanced Module 7 - Pain Self-Management
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Pain Foundations Advanced Module 8 - Disability and Chronic Pain
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Pain Foundations Advanced Module 9 - Sex, Gender and Chronic Pain
Pain Foundations Capstone
You must complete Modules 1-9 to access.
This module explores case studies through three different perspectives: psychosocial professionals, manual therapist professionals, and medical professionals.
You must complete Modules 1-9 to access.
This module explores case studies through three different perspectives: psychosocial professionals, manual therapist professionals, and medical professionals.
Faculty
Contributors and reviewers - Version 1
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Terri Aldred, MD; Terri Betts, BSc (Pharm), ACPR; Wesley Buch, PhD R.Psych; Donna Buna, BSc Pharm, PharmC; Michael Butterfield, MD; May Caprio, PhD, R.Psych; Sarah Derman, RN; Ada Glustein, MA (Ed); Bruce Hobson, MD; Najam Mian, MD; Janice Muir, CNS; Neil Pearson, PT, MSC (RHBS), BA-BPHE, C-IAYT, ERYT500; Brenda Poulton, MN, RN, NP(A); Arun Radhakrishnan, MD; Lindsey Rite, BSc (Kin), DC, CSEP-CEP; Cameron Ross, MD; Susan Reid-Schellinck, BSc (OT); Pamela Squire, MD; Shirley Sze, MD; Davidicus Wong, MD.
Contributors and reviewers - current Pain Foundations Program
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Reviewers for Modules 1-7: Wesley Buch, PhD R.Psych, Judy Dercksen, MD ; Arun Radhakrishnan, MD; Susan Reid-Schellinck, BSc (OT); Shirley Sze, MD.
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Reviewers for Disability and Chronic Pain Module: Susan Reid Schellinck, OT; Micaela Roughton, MA; Jennifer Goulart, MD,FRCPC
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Reviewers for Sex, Gender and Chronic Pain Module: Robert Beringer DSocSci; Lindsay Wolfson, MPH; Alex Haagaard, M.Des., Patient Partner
Modules
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