Francisco A. Naveira, MD, DABPM, DABA, FIPP, DASIPP - Interventional Pain Management. Specializes in chronic pain disorders related to the spine. Doctor Naveira is currently Board Certified by the American Board of Anesthesiology (DABA - Diplomate of the American Board of Anesthesiology) , the American Board of Pain Medicine (DABPM - Diplomate of the American Board of Pain Medicine) , and the World Institute of Pain (FIPP - Fellow in Interventional Pain Practice)
The specialty of Pain Medicine is concerned with the prevention, evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of painful disorders. Such disorders may have pain and associated symptoms arising from a discrete cause, such as postoperative pain or pain associated with a malignancy, or may be syndromes in which pain constitutes the primary problem, such as neuropathic pains or headaches. The diagnosis of painful syndromes relies on interpretation of historical data; review of previous laboratory, imaging, and electrodiagnostic studies; behavioral, social, occupational and a vocational assessment; interview and examination by the pain specialist; and may require specialized diagnostic procedures, including central and peripheral neural blockade or monitored drug infusions. The special needs of the pediatric and geriatric populations are considered when formulating a comprehensive treatment plan for these patients.
The pain physician serves as a consultant to other physicians but is often the principal treating physician and may provide care at various levels, such as direct treatment, prescribing medication, prescribing rehabilitative services, performing pain relieving procedures, counseling of patients and families, direction of a multidisciplinary team, coordination of care with other healthcare providers and consultative services to public and private agencies pursuant to optimal healthcare delivery to the patient suffering from a painful disorder. The pain physician may work in a variety of settings and is competent to treat the entire range of painful disorders encountered in delivery of quality health care.
Each year the American Board of Pain Medicine (ABPM) administers a psychometrically developed and practice-related examination in the field of Pain Medicine to qualified candidates. Physicians who have successfully completed the ABPM credentialing process and examination will be issued certificates as specialists in the field of Pain Medicine and designated as Diplomates of the American Board of Pain Medicine.
The ability to acquire and process information in an independent and timely manner is central to assure individual responsibility for all aspects of anesthesiology care. Adequate physical and sensory faculties, such as eyesight, hearing, speech and coordinated function of the extremities, are essential to the independent performance of the functions of the Board certified anesthesiologist. Freedom from the influence of or dependency on chemical substances that impair cognitive, physical, sensory or motor function also is an essential characteristic of the Board certified anesthesiologist.
An FIPP diplomate is a physician who provides medical and/or interventional management and consultation in Pain Medicine. A diplomate of the Board possesses knowledge, judgment, adaptability, clinical skills, technical facility and personal characteristics sufficient to carry out the entire scope of the interventional pain practice. An ABA diplomate logically organizes and effectively presents rational diagnoses and appropriate treatment protocols to peers, patients, their families and others involved in the medical community. A diplomate of the Board can serve as an expert in matters related to pain management, deliberate with others and provide advice and defend opinions in all aspects of the specialty of pain medicine. A Board certified interventionalist is able to function as the leader of the pain care team. Because of the nature of the role, the FIPP diplomate must be able to deal with emergent life-threatening situations in an independent and timely fashion.