Redefining pain care: Hoag’s comprehensive approach to relief
Chronic pain doesn’t exist in isolation. It can disrupt sleep, limit movement, strain mental health, and erode the ability to work or enjoy daily life. For millions of Americans, pain becomes not just a symptom, but a condition that affects every part of their well-being.
At Hoag, pain is no longer treated episodically or passed between specialties. In fall 2025, Hoag opened its dedicated Interventional Pain Center, expanding the Center for Pain Management into a purpose-built facility designed to deliver coordinated, comprehensive care for patients living with complex pain.
“In many health systems, pain care is fragmented,” says Dr. Aaron Przybysz, the John L. Curci Family Endowed Chair in Pain Management and Medical Director of the Center for Pain Management. “Chronic pain management is more than prescribing medication and sending a patient on their way. It requires a holistic, team-based approach focused on restoring function and quality of life.”
More than 20% of Americans live with chronic pain, a figure expected to rise as the population ages. Left inadequately treated, pain can interfere with mobility, nutrition, sleep, mental health, and recovery from other medical conditions—often compounding health challenges over time.
Hoag’s pain management program is integrated across the health system, supporting patients through spine care, cancer treatment, digestive conditions, women’s health, and surgical recovery. The team brings together board-certified specialists in pain medicine, anesthesiology, neurology, psychiatry, and addiction care, supported by a dedicated care navigator who helps guide patients through every stage of treatment.
The new Interventional Pain Center reflects that coordinated approach. Bringing consultation, diagnostics, and advanced procedures together under one roof, the facility streamlines access and strengthens collaboration across specialties.
Patients begin with a comprehensive assessment and a personalized plan that emphasizes non-invasive, evidence-based therapies. When appropriate, care may progress to targeted interventions such as image-guided injections, ablations, or neuromodulation—delivered in a setting designed specifically for comfort, safety, and continuity.
Equally important are non-pharmacologic strategies that support long-term wellness. Patients may benefit from physical therapy, virtual-reality–based pain modulation, mindfulness techniques, and personalized guidance on sleep, nutrition, and movement—approaches shown to reduce reliance on medication while improving daily function.
“Our goal is to create a center of excellence that brings together science, technology, and compassion,” Dr. Przybysz says. “By placing patients at the center of coordinated, forward-thinking care, we’re setting a new standard for how pain is treated.”
And helping patients move forward—beyond pain and back to living.
