Problem

It was recently brought to my attention that an incredible pain management program at the Cleveland Clinic in Cleveland, Ohio was being shut down due to lack of patient interest. This program, called IMATCH, along with a general chronic pain management program in the neurology department has failed to attract enough patients to keep the program profitable. The problem I see with this is that most people don’t even know that these invaluable programs exist unless they see a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic. While IMATCH has attracted people world wide, word of mouth has not been enough to garner adequate patient interest. The eradication of these programs would be a serious injustice to any person seeking to remedy chronic pain.



Solution

Those within the administrative office of Cleveland Clinic who are prioritizing profit over patient satisfaction and improvement should reconsider abolishing these programs and instead work with those in charge of IMATCH and the Chronic Pain programs and find solutions to increase patient awareness and interest. I have spoken to many people with chronic pain who have no idea these programs are available. I have encountered multiple doctors (IN OHIO) that have never heard of IMATCH. My own PCP in Columbus, who regularly attends lectures at the Cleveland Clinic, had never heard of IMATCH. The doctors that would refer their patients to a program like this do not know that it exists. The only reason I even found out about it was because I saw a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic who referred me to the program. The lack of patient awareness combined with the general hopelessness and resistance that most chronic pain sufferers experience will of course result in a lack of program participation. While the issue with patients feeling hopeless and resistant is not an issue that the Cleveland Clinic has the power to fix, the one with awareness is.



Personal story

For those of you who do not know -which I imagine is most anyone reading this or there wouldn’t be need for this petition- IMATCH is a three week program that incorporates physical therapy, psychology, neurology, and most importantly, education. During the three weeks, medications are adjusted and decreased to the bare minimum, daily physical therapy and personal training is implemented, and patients learn strategies and information that they will carry with them for the rest of their lives.



I have personally suffered with debilitating chronic migraines for over twenty years. I was fortunate enough to go through IMATCH in November and left with the most relief I have had since my migraines started. I have gone from being bedridden to being able to function enough to at least get out of bed every day. Getting out of bed may not sound like a huge accomplishment to those without chronic pain, but as someone who spent an entire month laying in bed in too much pain to even move, I cannot begin to explain how good it feels to be able to function through my migraines. I have gained a small grain of independence back since going through IMATCH and I continue to improve as I continue to implement the strategies that were taught to me during the program.



I cannot speak for the general Chronic Pain Management program as I have not participated in it, but IMATCH changed my life. It would be a disservice on part of the Cleveland Clinic to deprive those who have not yet had the opportunity to participate in IMATCH and experience the impact that the knowledgeable and caring staff of the neurology department could impart on any future patients. While the Cleveland Clinic Administrative offices cannot change the hopelessness and resistance felt by those who suffer chronic pain, IMATCH can.

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What YOU can do beyond signing the petition:

IMATCH isn't being shut down until January. Increase patient interest before then!

If you suffer from chronic pain or chronic migraines, enroll in IMATCH or the chronic pain program.

If you know someone who suffers from chronic pain or migraines, encourage them to enroll in the programs.

OR

If you have participated in IMATCH or the chronic pain program and your life has been positively impacted by them, write letters/emails to the administrative employees telling your story. Ask that IMATCH continue for the sake of future patients.



https://my.clevelandclinic.org/about/overview/leadership/executive

Email formats for Cleveland Clinic employees appears to be the first six letters of their last name followed by the first letter of their first name @ccf.org

(ex: DoeJ@ccf.org for John Doe)

Physical Mail can be addressed to the administrator name listed on the link provided above, followed by the Cleveland Clinic's Address:

9500 Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH 44195

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