Supporting the future of pain outcomes measurement
Pain outcomes data has played an important role in improving care, demonstrating the value of pain services and strengthening our understanding of pain care across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand. As the sector prepares for the planned conclusion of ePPOC, there is a strong shared commitment to ensuring this important work continues.
The Australian Pain Society is working alongside pain services and sector partners to keep services connected, support continuity of outcomes measurement and help coordinate the work already emerging across the pain community.
OUR APPROACH
Our approach has two immediate priorities: supporting services that need a practical interim bridge, while bringing the sector together to help shape an aspirational future for pain outcomes measurement.
Supporting continuity now
We know many pain services are asking a practical question: what do we do next?
Work is underway across the pain community to explore an interim REDCap-based “bridge” to help manage the transition from existing ePPOC data collection processes to a future pain outcomes solution which is still be determined.
The aim is simple: to support continuity of outcomes measurement while broader sector work progresses.
- An interim bridge may help services to:
continue collecting important patient outcomes data - maintain outcomes measurement as part of routine clinical care
- demonstrate service impact and value
- support quality improvement and funding discussions.
This is intended as a practical interim option for services that need it, recognising that different jurisdictions and services may already have their own plans underway.
Building the future together
Across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand, services, clinicians and researchers are already exploring what comes next.
Rather than duplicate this work, APS is helping connect the people, ideas and expertise already emerging across the sector.
We are mapping what services need, what solutions are being explored and where there may be opportunities to work together.
A short sector survey will help us understand:
- how services are preparing for the conclusion of ePPOC
- the technologies and approaches currently being considered
- where collaboration is already occurring
- the skills and capacity available across the sector
- who would like to contribute to future collaborative work.
This will help identify common needs, reduce duplication and connect people already working on similar challenges.
Most importantly, it will help inform a coordinated and aspirational approach to the future of pain outcomes measurement—one that reflects the needs of people living with pain, clinicians, services, researchers and health systems.
APS: connecting the pain community
APS has an important role in bringing the multidisciplinary pain community together.
In this work, our focus is to connect, communicate and convene—helping services and sector partners share information, find each other and reduce unnecessary duplication.
APS is currently:
- connecting services and teams already exploring interim solutions
- supporting development of an interim REDCap-based bridge
- mapping the needs and capacity of pain services
- sharing updates and emerging information with the sector
- supporting collaboration across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.
APS is not seeking to independently build or own a new national data platform. Our role is to help create the connections and shared visibility needed for the sector to move forward together.
Stay Connected
This work is moving quickly and we want to ensure pain services remain connected.You can register for updates about the interim bridge, complete the pain services survey or tell us if you or your team have expertise, capacity or an interest in contributing.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is happening with ePPOC?
ePPOC is currently planned to conclude on 31st October, 2026. Services which have current service agreements with ePPOC will have been contacted by Dr David Holloway, Director of ePPOC about the planned decommissioning and plans for access to epiCentre, service level data and reporting. Services are strongly encouraged to contact ePPOC directly for guidance about specific questions at eppoc-uow@uow.edu.au
What is the Australian Pain Society doing?
The Australian Pain Society, along with our pain sector partners are working together to support services and maintain momentum around outcomes measurement. These partners include representatives from the New Zealand Pain Society, Faculty of Pain Medicine (ANZCA), Chronic Pain Australia, Painaustralia and the Australian Pain Solutions Research Alliance. Discussions are evolving all the time which is why we are seeking feedback from services about what is happening on the ground.
Is APS replacing ePPOC?
No. APS is helping connect and coordinate the sector, support practical interim work and bring together the people and expertise needed to inform future directions.
What is the interim REDCap bridge?
It is a practical, interim option being explored to help services continue collecting key outcomes data while broader sector work progresses. We acknowledge that not all services have access to REDCap, and that it may not meet every service’s needs. Even so, we are inviting feedback from all services affected by the ePPOC changes to ensure the solution we progress reflects the practical requirements of most services and enables services to maintain some degree of consistent pain outcomes collection while we navigate this time of change.
Will APS hold service data?
The interim approach currently being explored is based on service-level REDCap accounts, with services maintaining access to and control of their own data. Services should review all communications from ePPOC regarding the decommissioning and next steps for data and platform access. APS is not proposing to centrally aggregate service data through the interim bridge.
How can our service get involved?
Complete the survey, register for updates or let us know if your service has expertise, capacity or an interest in contributing to collaborative work.
