Integration of Biofeedback into Pediatric Multidisciplinary Programs at Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas City

Research supports multidisciplinary care as an efficacious, and cost-effective approach for treating pain. An interdisciplinary approach to treatment for chronic pain in children and adolescents has been successfully implemented at Children’s Mercy Hospital Kansas City. The hospital has supported the establishment and growth of an Integrative Pain Management Team (IPMT), an Abdominal Pain Program (APP), and recently has added multidisciplinary teams that deal with a variety of difficult, chronic gastrointestinal issues. Biofeedback-assisted relaxation training (BART) has been integrated into the Abdominal Pain and Integrative Pain Management programs and is a valued component of their comprehensive treatment care plans. A description of current biofeedback training protocols, training modalities, therapeutic games, and home practice tools is provided.