Managing Persistent Pain and Disability: Best Practices
The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, Hyannis, Cape Cod, Massachusetts
Monday, July 19, 2010

Continuing Education Information
Schedule
Hotel Information
Registration Information
Brochure
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Executive Summary: This unique and new preconference is for attendees who deal with claimants with persistent pain and disability. This pre-conference combines research, video, and the world class presenter Michael J. Sullivan, Ph.D.

At the completion of the workshop you will learn about:

• The practice implications of biopsychosocial conceptualizations of pain
• Psychosocial risk factors and how to minimize their negative impact on health outcomes
• The mental health problems most commonly associated with persistent pain
• How to effectively screen for mental health problems associated with pain
• Effective intervention techniques to manage psychosocial risk factors, persistent pain, and disability

Registration Information: The $395 tuition includes a continental breakfast, breaks, lunch with faculty, a workshop manual not available elsewhere, and a dynamic learning experience.

Distinguished Faculty: Dr. Michael Sullivan is currently Professor of Psychology and Medicine at McGill University, and Scientific Director of the Centre for Research on Pain, Disability and Social Integration. He has lectured nationally and internationally on the social and behavioral determinants of pain-related disability. He is known primarily for his research on the relation between catastrophic thinking and pain experience, and for the development of community-based approaches to the management of pain-related disability. Dr. Sullivan developed the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS) in 1995. The PCS has been used in more than 200 scientific studies, it is translated into 12 languages and is currently the most widely used measure of catastrophic thinking related to pain. Dr. Sullivan also developed the Pain-Disability Prevention (PDP) Program and the Progressive Goal Attainment Program (PGAP); the first two community-based intervention programs designed specifically to target psychosocial risk factors for pain-related disability. Dr. Sullivan has published over 100 scientific papers, 12 chapters, and 4 books. He currently holds a Canada Research Chair in Behavioral Health. Dr. Sullivan obtained his undergraduate training at McGill University and his graduate training at Concordia University in Montreal. A CD release in 1999 led to a nomination for best Country Artist at the East Coast Music Awards.

Continuing Education Credits
Case Managers: 7.0 contact hours of continuing education for Case Managers have been applied for from the Commission for Case Manager Certification, St. Paul Minnesota. Disability Specialists: 7.0 contact hours of continuing education for Disability Specialists have been applied for from the Commission for Disability Management Specialists Commission,Schaumburg, Illinois. Human Resource: This program has been approved for 7.25 recertification credit hours toward PHR, SPHR and GPHR recertification through the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). Nurses: To successfully complete a program and receive contact hours you must: 1) register in, 2) be present for the period of time you are awarded contact hours, 3) complete the evaluation. Occupational Health Nurses: 7.0 60-minute contact hours of continuing education in nursing have been applied for through the American Association of Occupational Health Nurses, Inc (AAOHN). AAOHN is an accredited approver of continuing education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center’s Commission on Accreditation. (ANCC is the educational department under the ANA.) Physical Therapists: Continuing Physical Therapy credits vary by state, and will only be applied for if requested in writing on the conference registration form. Physicians: SEAK, Inc. is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians. SEAK, Inc. designates this educational activity for a maximum of 7.25 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. Rehabilitation Counselors: 7.0 contact hours of continuing education hours for Rehabilitation Counselors have been applied for from the Commission on Rehabilitation Counselor Certification, Schaumburg, Illinois. Rehabilitation Nurses: This program will be accepted for 7.0 contact hours of credit for ARN certification. Submit certificate.

SCHEDULE

7:00–8:00 Registration, Continental Breakfast & Exhibits

8:00–8:15 Introduction
Faculty will explain why an in-depth understanding of the issues of pain, psychosocial predictors of problematic health outcomes, risk factors, and screening and intervention are crucial for reducing the severity of symptoms and disability. Questions and Answers.

8:15–9:30 Psychology of Pain
The biopsychosocial models that have evolved to explain the diversity of outcomes following injury or illness will be presented. The faculty will describe the different biopsychosocial conceptualization of pain that have appeared in the literature. Discussion will address the varying degrees of scientific support that these models have garnered over the years and their practical use and implications. Questions and Answers.

9:30–10:15 Psychosocial Predictors of Problematic Health Outcomes
This session will focus on the clinical implications of psychological factors that adversely influence the effectiveness of medical treatment, recovery, and effectiveness of medication. Questions and Answers.

10:15–10:30 Break, Exhibits & Networking Opportunity

10:30–11:30 Psychosocial Risk Factors
The faculty will review and explain what is known about the relationship between psychosocial risk factors and problematic health outcomes, including pain catastrophizing, pain-related fears, negative expectancies, and perceived injustice. Faculty will connect the research data and its use for the attendees. Questions and Answers.

11:30–12:00 Mental Health Problems Associated with Pain
The faculty will, in this section, review what is currently known about the relation between mental health problems including depression, post-traumatic stress, and pain related health outcomes. The practical and useful implications of this information will be offered to the attendees. Questions and Answers.

12:00–1:00 Lunch (Provided with Faculty)

1:00–2:00 Detection of Psychosocial Risk Factors for Persistent Pain and Disability
Dr. Sullivan will address the administration, scoring, and interpretation of different assessment instruments. In addition, informal methods of assessing psychosocial risk will be reviewed. Video records of client interviews will be presented to show how elements of psychosocial risk factors emerge through a client’s language and behavior, and what can and should be done with this type of information. Questions and Answers.

2:00–3:00 Screening for Mental Health Problems Associated with Pain and Disability
Instruments have been developed to screen for the presence of mental health problems such as depression and post-traumatic stress disorder associated consequent to injury or illness. The advantages and disadvantages of different instruments will be discussed. The administration,scoring, and interpretation of different measures of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder will be addressed. The use of these objective tests will be presented. Questions and Answers.

3:00–3:15 Break, Exhibits & Networking Opportunity

3:15–4:30 Intervention Approaches for the Management of Psychological Risk Factors for Persistent Pain and Disability
This session will describe brief intervention techniques that can be used to minimize the negative impact of psychosocial risk factors on recovery outcomes. Faculty will also review what is currently known about the treatment of depression and post-traumatic stress disorder associated with pain-related conditions. Discussion will address the distinction between treating the symptoms of mental health conditions and treating the disability associated with mental health. Faculty will offer practical suggestions for clinicians, employers, and insurers for intervention best practices. Questions and Answers.

4:30–4:45 Wrap up
Concluding remarks and final question and answer session

Hotel Information
Site Hotel - The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis. A limited block of rooms has been reserved at convention rates ($210 + tax) at the site hotel (The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis). These rooms will be assigned on a first request basis. To reserve your room, please call 866-828-9111 and mention the SEAK/Workers’ Compensation Conference. The resort is surrounded by 52 totally private acres of beautifully landscaped grounds and offers an 18-hole par 54 golf course, a private patio or balcony for the 232 guest rooms, a complete fitness center, indoor and outdoor pools, a whirlpool, a complete spa, and free parking. The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis is conveniently located within walking distance of Main Street with its many shops and restaurants. Public beaches and the ferries to Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket are minutes from the hotel.

Alternative Lodging
As a tourist destination, the Hyannis area has numerous alternative lodging options for different tastes and budgets. We have reserved a block of overflow rooms at The Holiday Inn Hyannis at a discounted rate ($189 single/double). To make your reservations, please call (508) 775-1153 and identify yourselves as being with SEAK, Inc. or book online at www.holidayinn.com/hyannisma and Enter Group Code: SEK. During the conference, SEAK, Inc. will provide free regularly scheduled shuttle bus service between The Holiday Inn Hyannis and The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis. The Holiday Inn Hyannis is approximately 3 miles from The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis and is located nearby the Cape Cod Mall and several restaurants. The Holiday Inn Hyannis was recently renovated and features an indoor pool, restaurant, modern gym and free hi-speed internet access. If you prefer a hotel on the harbor and within walking distance of downtown/waterfront restaurants, we suggest the Anchor In (www.anchorin.com), which is 2 miles from The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis. For a good value, we suggest the Sea Coast Inn (www.seacoastcapecod.com) which is within healthy walking distance of the site hotel and easy walking distance of main street and the Hyannis docks. For a small motel directly across from Craigville Beach, we suggest the Ocean View on Craigville Beach (www.capecodoceanviewmotel.com) If you are coming with your family or colleagues and prefer a suite or townhouse with kitchenette, we suggest the Red Jacket Green Harbor Resort, which is located directly on Lewis Bay, 3 miles from The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis. If you would like to stay at an oceanfront beach resort with a private beach, jet ski rentals, etc., we suggest the Red Jacket Beach Resort (www.redjacketresorts.com). The Red Jacket Beach Resort is 6 miles from The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, but please note that traffic can be heavy in the afternoons coming back from The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis.

Getting to Hyannis
The two major airports closest to Cape Cod are Logan International Airport in Boston, MA (70 miles) and T.F. Green Airport in Warwick, Rhode Island (80 miles). Barnstable Airport is a five minute drive from The Resort and Conference Center at Hyannis, but this is a commuter airport that has smaller planes and fewer flights. T.F. Green is preferred over Logan (if you are able to get a direct flight) as it is usually less congested. Rental cars, taxis and car service are available at all three airports. If you are on a tight budget or prefer not to drive, Plymouth & Brockton runs bus service between Logan Airport and Hyannis (www.p-b.com).

Cape Cod
Cape Cod is a true destination spot that features beautiful beaches, warm water, great restaurants, historic towns, sightseeing, kayaking, whale watching, museums, numerous bike trails, shopping, nightlife, championship golf, and world famous boating. Cape Cod is also gateway to the islands of Martha’s Vineyard and Nantucket. For more information on what to do on Cape Cod, please visit www.capecod.com.