Photo By Sheila deVera | Licensed Acupuncturist Tim Iliff, 673d Surgical Operations Squadron pain clinic,...... read more read more
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Tim Iliff and Michele Lewis are the first licensed acupuncturist and medical massage therapist in the Air Force respectively said Air Force Capt. Raelene Amaya, 673d SOS Pain Clinic Nurse Manager.
The Pain Clinic’s mission is to provide multidisciplinary chronic pain - management care. Their method involves medication management, procedural pain treatment, pain physical therapy, and lifestyle modification.
“Michele and Tim started in the early fall of 2016,” said Air Force Maj. Cameron Cartier, Pain Clinic officer-in-charge. “We are the first to establish a licensed acupuncturist and medical massage therapist, so that gives us more treatment options for patients who do not necessarily respond to a traditional treatment plan. They are both great additions to the team.”
“Our goal is to get patients off pain medication by providing these modalities, whether it be a massage, acupuncture, intervention injection therapy, or counseling,” Cartier said.
On average, the pain clinic sees close to 50 patients a day, and the new additions have been well-received by patients.
One ICE comment from a patient who has been dealing with pain since 2003 said acupuncture and massage were the answer to their pain issues. They have tried different methods such as the injections and medication, but the combination of the two new services has relieved their pain.
“We had several patients specifically looking for their treatment,” Cartier said. [Patients who are seen by the] acupuncturist and massage therapist have been able to be pain-free. They were able to graduate from their programs.”
The clinic also offers many other services like radiofrequency ablation, Botox injections to relieve migraines, and yoga.
“Patients have a right to pain relief, and we are dedicated to helping those patients find that relief, whether it is a physical or emotional pain,” said Tech. Sgt. Daniell Gagne-Thibodeau, pain clinic noncommissioned officer-in-charge. “We work with the patients to establish a goal for their pain relief and implement a plan to achieve it. We offer education on pain management techniques and alternate treatment options.”
While some pain patients experience pain for much of their life, the pain clinic is there to help them manage their pain with non-invasive techniques. Due to a current short-term manning shortage in the JBER Hospital Pain Clinic, they are only accepting doctors’ referrals for active-duty service members at this time. At full staffing, the Pain Clinic offers appointments to active duty, active duty dependents, retirees, retiree dependents and VA patients. The Pain Clinic is expected to return to full staffing late summer or early fall 2017.
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2017 20:05 |
| Story ID: | 232198 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US |
| Web Views: | 344 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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