Regence and The Portland Clinic partner to support pain management education

At Regence, we believe that improving care starts with forging strong partnerships with providers and hospitals to improve the health of our members. Since 2014, Regence and The Portland Clinic have been working together to provide quality, compassionate care to the Portland metropolitan area through a value-based agreement that prioritizes lower costs and better care for members. 

Last year, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon became the official sponsor of The Portland Clinic’s long-standing pain management class, allowing the community resource to continue at no cost to attendees. Led by a psychologist and physical therapist, classes are designed to change the conversation around chronic pain, helping individuals understand and appropriately manage their pain.

“Research supports that when folks are given education about pain management and the intersection of physical and mental health, they tend to feel more validated,” said Jessica Binkley, PsyD, Portland Clinic clinical psychologist and class instructor. “The biggest benefit of this class is that participants can walk away with some concrete tools that can help positively impact their health.”

Suffering from chronic pain? Here are a few takeaways from the Chronic Pain Management class to help you manage it better:

• Identify your stressors. Stress is your body’s reaction to the demands of the world. Relationships, finances and work can all have adverse effects on your health and wellbeing. Identifying your unique stressors can help you figure out the best way to address them.
• Engage in stress management. Once you’ve identified your stressors, take time to engage in the foundations of stress management. This includes getting the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep per night and prioritizing regular exercise – ideally, at least 150 minutes per week of moderate-intensity, such as a brisk walk.
• Practice mindfulness. One of the simplest ways you can practice mindfulness is by implementing relaxation practices, such as deep breathing, journaling or contemplation. Learn more about helpful mindfulness practices, on mindful.org.
  • The Portland Clinic also offers a mindfulness and pain support group which encourages dialogue and promotes mindfulness practices that can be implemented at home. Those interested in participating can visit The Portland Clinic's website for a calendar of classes, and/or call 503-293-0161, ext. 4138 for more information.

“Pain is truly a mind-body relationship,” said Steven Nakano, MSPT, Portland Clinic director of rehabilitation services and class instructor. “Mindfulness goes beyond behavioral health – it impacts physical health, too.”

• Pace yourself. Pushing yourself too hard can lead to increased suffering in the long run. Practice pacing, even with everyday activities such as household chores or errands, to avoid aggravating pre-existing pain.

Interested in attending an upcoming class? Check out the Clinic's calendar of events, or call 503-293-0161, ext. 4138 for the full schedule and to register.

Regence selfie moment at the pain management resource table

Chronic Pain and the Opioid Epidemic

The Portland Clinic’s Chronic Pain Management class empowers individuals to address their pain without the use of opioids.

Regence is proud to partner with community leaders, organizations and health care providers across the state to address the opioid epidemic, and help our members access non-opioid, alternative treatments and support. Regence is committed to decreasing the misuse of opioids while supporting use for people who can benefit from opioid treatment. Learn more in our opioid response or on our blog.

The Portland Clinic (TPC) is part of Regence’s Total Cost of Care program – a value-based agreement program that incentivizes lower costs and better care for members. Currently, there are 3,600 Regence members receiving care through TPC. TPC also collaborates with our Care Managers in the Common Care program, where Regence uses both clinical and claims data to facilitate meaningful alignment with partners so that at-risk members receive coordinated support in managing their health.