the daily struggle, beyond coping
with physical pain, likely includes
juggling medical appointments and
trying to continue participating in
the activities of normal living. It all
takes a toll on patients and families.
Symptoms and limitations arising from
pain can create a new set of issues that
need attention, such as a test of one’s
religious faith in light of a medical
reality, or a communication breakdown
between a patient’s family and the
care team. This kind of support is an
integral part of patient care at Scott &
White, and it speaks to the healthcare
system’s overall philosophy of offering
patients complete care through a
multidisciplinary approach.
“Many patients struggle with
debilitating pain, and need to be able
to function and return to their normal
lives,” says Christopher J. Burnett, MD,
division head of the Pain Management
Clinic. Dr. Burnett treats patients who
suffer from low back pain, one of the
most common reasons for doctors
visits. He and his team offer innovative
therapies to alleviate pain, such as spinal
cord stimulators and a technique called
kyphoplasty, a procedure to reduce back
pain. The team also recognizes the
importance of helping patients maintain
quality of life, in spite of their pain. “A
patient’s needs can be as simple as just
wanting to play with their kids, or to
do the laundry and cook meals without
pain. It’s important to collaborate with
specialists in other areas of care so
patients’ overall needs are met,” says
Dr. Burnett.
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The Catalyst April 13 | sw.org
Patients are grateful when
a treatment has worked to alleviate
chronic back pain. “I have had patients
hug me when I walk into the room after
performing a spinal cord stimulator
trial or vertebroplasty to treat their
pain. These are truly rewarding patient
encounters,” he says. Dr. Burnett will
consult with a neuropsychologist if a
patient is battling depression, in an
effort to treat the totality of the person’s
symptoms. Dr. Burnett explains that
it can be difficult to know whether
“It’s important to
collaborate with
specialists in other
areas of care so
patients’ overall
needs are met.”
—Christopher J. Burnett, MD
the physical pain caused the depression
or vice versa. “What we do know is
that we don’t want to keep increasing
medications, and repeating the same
cycle,” he says. He acknowledges that
some patients will experience pain
throughout their lives. “We need to
be there for them,” he says. Because
these services are so vital, Scott &
White has expanded access to pain
management strategies. As patients’
needs increase, they can take comfort
knowing that Scott & White pain
management services are available in
and near their communities, including
Temple, Round Rock, College Station,
Killeen, and Marble Falls.
Palliative care and a
personalized approach
Dr. Burnett directs a new pain
management fellowship program at
Scott & White, and medical residents
in the program rotate through a
service called palliative care. The goal
of palliative care medicine is to help
patients be more comfortable while
living with chronic pain. Palliative care
services can help treat non-physical
discomfort, such as emotional pain,
and treat these symptoms accordingly.
Palliative care physicians are specialists
who are highly skilled in non-invasive
pain management. For patients with
chronic and other pain, these physicians
add a new perspective to the traditional
treatment plan by exploring symptoms
such as psychosocial and spiritual
isolation, and offering ways to help.
Palliative care is different from
hospice, or end-of-life, care. Ideally,
palliative care services would be
introduced in a patient’s care plan
as early as possible, to help alleviate
symptoms that contribute to overall
discomfort, but they are integrated at
any point. Palliative care team members
work alongside the patient’s primary
and specialty care clinicians. While
palliative care is a relatively new field of
medicine, its effectiveness is undeniable.