"Seeing success is the best way to convince people of the usefulness and the need for other approaches," agreed Jaffin.
The 109 recommendations are divided into four areas: to provide tools and infrastructure that support pain management, build a full spectrum of best practices, focus on Soldiers and families, and synchronize a culture of pain awareness, education and intervention.
Schoomaker said the recommendations that can be put into policy under his authority will be implemented in the coming months, and the 2010 National Defense Authorization Act asks the secretary of defense to integrate a pain-management policy into the military health-care system no later than March 2011