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Migraine Awareness Month June 2025 | Hospital Leadership

Migraine Awareness Month 2025 Graphic

Hospital Strategy for Pain Equity, Neurology Expansion, and Patient Empowerment

Published: June 1, 2025

Each June, National Migraine & Headache Awareness Month raises visibility for a disabling condition affecting more than 40 million Americans. Migraine is the second leading cause of disability worldwide, with the World Health Organization ranking it among the top 10 most disabling diseases. Despite its prevalence, it remains vastly underdiagnosed and undertreated, particularly in women, communities of color, and low-income populations. Migraine is the second leading cause of disability worldwide and remains vastly under diagnosed and undertreated, particularly in women, communities of color, and low-income populations (Smitherman et al., 2015). For hospitals, this month presents a leadership opportunity to address access barriers, integrate headache specialists, and strengthen emergency neurology protocols. Institutions like Johns Hopkins Headache Center have established multidisciplinary headache clinics with embedded neurologists, behavioral health experts, and pharmacists. Hospital executives must consider how clinical guidelines are translated into urgent care, primary care, and emergency workflows. Inadequate treatment can result in unnecessary imaging, opioid overuse, and repeat visits—burdening systems and patients alike. This observance is a catalyst for aligning migraine care with institutional pain management strategies. Raising awareness is not just an outreach task—it’s a systems-level performance imperative.

Operationalizing migraine and headache care requires full-spectrum integration. Emergency departments should be equipped with non-opioid protocols, screening checklists, and neurology referral workflows. Inpatient units must address secondary headaches related to underlying medical conditions, medication overuse, or post-surgical complications. App-based mobile health (mHealth) technologies have demonstrated effectiveness in improving migraine tracking, treatment personalization, and clinical follow-up—offering scalable tools for systems-level integration in neurology service lines (PMC10587810). Radiology and neurology teams must collaborate to limit overuse of imaging while maintaining diagnostic vigilance. Pharmacy departments are essential in access to triptans, CGRP inhibitors, and non-pharmacologic therapies. Pain equity frameworks should be implemented to ensure culturally and linguistically appropriate care across departments. Migraines disproportionately affect women, yet they are more likely to be dismissed in clinical encounters—underscoring the need for gender-informed protocols. Quality improvement teams can analyze return visits, medication patterns, and patient-reported pain outcomes to drive change. Hospitals that embed headache protocols demonstrate leadership in both clinical accuracy and patient dignity.

Migraine equity also demands focused attention from health system executives. Research shows that Black and Hispanic individuals are less likely to receive a formal migraine diagnosis or be referred to specialists. Social determinants such as occupational exposure, sleep deprivation, food insecurity, and stress contribute to migraine disparities. A 2021 systematic review found that racial and ethnic minority populations experience greater barriers to migraine care, with significant gaps in diagnosis, treatment, and access to neurology services (PMC8424498). Hospitals must ensure interpreter services, culturally tailored pain education, and insurance-inclusive treatment pathways are standard—not exceptional. Medical-legal partnerships can help support patients dealing with disability claims or work accommodations. Pain scales and treatment algorithms must be validated across populations, and implicit bias training should be included in neurology residency programs. Equity dashboards should track migraine outcomes across gender, race, and ZIP code. By confronting structural biases in neurology, hospitals fulfill both a moral and strategic obligation. Awareness alone is insufficient—accountability must follow.

Public-facing campaigns in June can also expand hospitals’ community credibility and reach. Hosting virtual “Ask a Neurologist” webinars, distributing migraine toolkits in EDs, and running social media campaigns on triggers and management can build awareness. A 2021 study published in Headache emphasized that community-based mHealth strategies—like digital diaries, educational apps, and patient self-monitoring—can increase engagement, reduce symptom burden, and enhance continuity of care (PMC8441047). Additionally, national models like the GPAC Migraine Workplace Initiative demonstrate how employer partnerships can support migraine education, reduce absenteeism, and foster stigma-free environments for patients at work. Participation in initiatives by the National Headache Foundation and American Migraine Foundation strengthens credibility. Featuring migraine patient testimonials—particularly from underserved communities—can foster empathy and reduce stigma. Hospitals should also prepare internal education campaigns for frontline staff on identifying migraine red flags and escalation pathways. Community benefit reporting can include migraine outreach as part of broader pain equity or chronic disease education. Executive presence at these campaigns reinforces leadership’s commitment to clinical equity. Every flier, webinar, and patient story contributes to systemwide transformation.

As National Migraine & Headache Awareness Month continues through June 2025, executive leaders have an obligation to translate visibility into action. Strategy teams should review headache metrics—such as ED re-visit rates, access to preventive therapies, and specialist referrals. Neurology departments must assess staffing models, telehealth readiness, and clinical trial participation for headache-related research. Pain management committees should evaluate alignment with CDC guidelines and health equity standards. Quality and compliance teams must monitor performance improvement goals tied to migraine management. The month’s observance can also be leveraged to inform budget planning for the next fiscal year—highlighting neurology as a strategic priority. Hospitals that lead boldly on headache care not only reduce avoidable suffering—they affirm their identity as systems of healing and innovation. Institutional silence on migraine has a cost. Leadership during June can redefine how pain is treated, understood, and respected. Strategic, equitable, and enduring—this is how healthcare organizations rise to the moment.

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Looking to embed migraine protocols and improve neurology service line performance? Our editorial content supports hospital leaders in transforming pain care delivery, equity strategy, and cross-specialty alignment.

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