Continuity of care for the cancer patient with chronic pain

The care of patients with cancer and chronic pain, often complicated and demanding, strains the resources of a single physician. Continuity of care programs, such as that developed by the Pain Service of Memorial Sloan‐Kettering Cancer Center (New York), with good communication and liaison work between hospital and community, add a much needed dimension to the pain management of these patients in the home. Although continuity of care programs resemble hospice programs in philosophy, there are major differences in admission criteria: the program is not restricted to dying individuals; patients may live alone; they may receive active therapy with a focus on cure or remission; and they continue to receive their care, including pain management, within a standard medical system under the supervision of their primary physician and nurse.