Valley Forge Medical Center Achieves Milestone as First Addiction-Free Pain Management Center of Excellence and Will Host Three Day Pain Management Professional Training Seminar

    SACRAMENTO, CA, June 09, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- VFMC has demonstrated exemplary Addiction-Free Pain Management (APM) treatment services and met the rigorous standards through the use of the APM Center of Excellence Protocols and the Gorski-CENAPS Developmental Model of Treatment. An informal ceremony will be held at June 9 at Valley Forge Medical Center, 1033 W. Germantown Pike in Norristown PA 19403.

Tracey Vawter, Director of Planning, stated, "We are elated to be receiving the first APM certification and designation in the country as a "Center of Excellence". The APM program has had a huge and positive impact on our treatment program. This is a highly effective, comprehensive approach to treating individuals with chronic pain and coexisting disorders, which is something we're seeing more of at our hospital. Our staff has worked hard over the past year to achieve this one of a kind certification and we are grateful to Dr. Grinstead for his consulting, teaching, and guidance."

Dr. Stephen F. Grinstead, developer of the Addiction Free Pain Management System stated, "We are thrilled to have the opportunity to award VFMC with our Center of Excellence Designation. Working with their team has been an incredibly satisfying experience. My personal congratulations and thanks go to Tracey Vawter and the Executive Committee whose enthusiasm and commitment throughout the process was essential to the success of getting the APM Program up and running."

VFMC is also hosting the 3-day Addiction-Free Pain Management training on June 10-13, 2009 that is open to the Public and will teach healthcare professionals how to work more effectively with people living with chronic pain and other co-existing disorders by concurrently addressing the addictive disorder, coexisting psychological disorder and chronic pain, thereby improving treatment outcomes. After attending the APM Training, participants can complete an optional Competency Certification which will position them for success in the chemical dependency and behavioral health field.

The Addiction Free Pain Management System is a strategic treatment approach that uses the GORSKI-CENAPS model of Relapse Prevention and integrates advanced pain management methods with the most effective treatment methods for addiction. The result is a unique integration that combines proper medication management with non-medical techniques leading to patient pain relief, while lowering or eliminating the risk of addiction or relapse.

About Dr. Stephen F. Grinstead, LMFT, ACRPS, CADC-II: Dr. Grinstead is an author and internationally recognized expert in preventing relapse related to chronic pain disorders. He and his wife Ellen Grinstead own and operate Grinstead Consulting, Training & Coaching Services dedicated to assisting in the treatment of chronic pain and co-existing disorders. Dr. Grinstead developed the Addiction-Free Pain Management System to provide healthcare professionals with specific tools and evidence-based manualized treatment to support them and patients seeking their help. For more information please call (916) 575-9961 or visit www.addiction-free.com.

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