We began our journey at PainChek in 2016 with a mission to give a voice to those who cannot reliably verbalise their pain.
Since then, we have delivered on our mission by enabling best-practice pain assessment and management for thousands of people worldwide, including those with dementia, cognitive impairment and disability.
PainChek® is contracted for use across a wide range of organisations who provide care for more than 120,000 people around the globe. As the world’s first clinically validated medical device for the assessment of pain, we are proud to be empowering carers and clinicians to harness the power of medical technology and deliver the highest standard of care.
Below, we reflect on our phenomenal growth and our plans for continued expansion.
A history rooted in research & development
A leader in clinical pharmacy education and practice, Professor Jeff Hughes (PainChek’s Chief Scientific Officer) had observed that medication was being used inappropriately in care settings, and sought a path to more accurate pain assessment and management.
In 2012, Professor Hughes, within the School of Pharmacy at Curtin University in Western Australia, started a research project with his colleague Dr. Kreshnik Hoti and PhD student Mustafa Atee to find a better alternative to paper-based pain assessment tools within the aged care sector. The research company ePAT Pty Ltd was formed.
By 2015, a prototype ePAT (electronic pain assessment tool) had been developed and in 2016 clinical trials were completed to validate the utility of ePAT in the aged care sector.
In October 2016, this promising technology led to the company being listed on the Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). Philip Daffas joined as CEO and MD, and has led the company since, bringing with him more than 25 years of experience leading blue-chip healthcare corporates and novel technology start-up companies.
In 2017, ePAT Pty Ltd was renamed PainChek to represent the purpose of the technology, and a board of directors with relevant skillsets was appointed to further build the business.
From strength to strength
PainChek® is rapidly expanding its presence across the UK, North America, Singapore, New Zealand, and other regions.
Today, PainChek®’s innovative pain assessment technology is utilised in a diverse range of settings including aged care facilities, hospitals, the disability support sector and the home.
15.9 million clinical assessments have been completed using PainChek® to date.
US/FDA
- PainChek® Adult granted a De Novo classification by the US FDA.
- PainChek secures first US client – Jewish Home Family
Canada
- PainChek officially established its Canadian headquarters, selecting the Edmonton Metro Region as its base for North American expansion.
- Edmonton-based clients include St. Michael’s Health Group and Sherwood Care, which have been using PainChek to assess and manage pain in long-term care residents since 2023.
Key highlights from the past five years include:
- September 2025: PainChek® expands to the Edmonton Metro Region to launch North American operations.
- October 2025: PainChek® Adult granted a De Novo classification by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA). As part of the granting decision, the FDA has created a new product code “SGB” – formally recognising PainChek as a unique, first-of-its-kind medical device for pain assessment. Shortly after, PainChek secures Jewish Home Family as its first US client.
Establishing key integration partnerships
A core focus for us at PainChek has been on establishing integration partnerships with leading healthcare software and technology providers to better support the delivery of quality care. PainChek® integrations are two-way, both receiving information from the integrated system and sending back pain assessment data. This gives critical time back to staff and helps ensure data consistency and integrity across clinical systems.
PainChek® is integrated with care management systems covering more than 180,000 beds in Australia, 25,000 beds in New Zealand, and 90,000 beds in the UK. Current integration partners include AlayaCare, AutumnCare, CareLynx, Person Centred Software, Sarah Software Solutions, HealthMetrics, LeeCare, Management Advantage, Telstra Health, VCare, Medi-Map, Access Care Management, and MPS among others, with several more on the horizon.
Achieving industry recognition
We are proud to have received a number of prestigious awards in recognition of PainChek®’s innovative technology, vision and impact on the healthcare sector:
- Won the Good Design Award® 2018 for outstanding design and innovation
- Won the Tech for an Ageing Society Award in Australia’s UK Tech Rocketship Awards 2019
- PainChek Chief Scientific Officer Jeff Hughes named the 2020 recipient of the Fred J Boyd Award, recognising his commitment to excellence in teaching, learning and innovation
- Named one of Deloitte’s 2020 Asia Pacific Technology Fast 500 companies
- Selected as a finalist for the Outstanding Engagement for Research Impact category as part of the Engagement Australia 2020 Excellence Awards
Growing our international footprint
Since our inception, we have established a significant presence across the Australian market and further abroad, backed by innovative, clinically-validated pain assessment technology.
As PainChek® CEO Philip Daffas said:
“Within five years, PainChek has successfully commercialised its technology… and is now on the cusp of establishing it within multiple international markets.”
Moving forward, our focus remains on growing our international footprint to enable best-practice pain management and quality care for more people around the globe, with multiple new products scheduled for launch over the next two years.
If you’re interested in learning more about using PainChek®, submit your expression of interest and a member of our team will be in touch.
