Pain and Addiction Courses
From Clinicaltools.com
Core Courses
1. Initial Assessment: Assessing for Substance Use Disorders at Initial Evaluations of Pain Patients
2. Initial Prescribing: Minimizing Risk of Substance Use Disorders When Initially Prescribing Controlled Substances to Pain Patients
3. Ongoing Management: Managing Substance Misuse and Addiction in Ongoing Treatment of Chronic Pain Patients
4. Avoiding Diversion: Protecting Your Medical Practice from Diversion Problems
Clinical Application Courses
Clinical Cases by Pain Diagnosis: Treating Common Pain Conditions While Minimizing Risk of Addiction
Clinical Cases by Substance Use Problem: Treating Pain According to the Type of Substance Use Problem
Course Goals and Objectives:
Course 1: Assessing Substance Use Disorders at Initial Evaluation of Pain Patients
Goal: The learner will be able to assess pain patients for substance use disorders (and risk) at the initial patient evaluation.
Learning Objectives:
- A. Obtain a Medical History. Ask about substance abuse and risks for substance abuse in the medical history for pain patients
- B. Screen/Assess. Screen/assess for substance abuse and risks for substance abuse in pain patients
- C. Interview. Discuss substance abuse and risks for substance abuse when interviewing pain patients
- D. Differentiate. Distinguish substance use disorders from under-treated pain
- E. Diagnose. Diagnose substance abuse in pain patients
- F. Refer. Make appropriate referrals to specialists
Course 2: Minimizing Risk of Substance Use Disorders When Initially Prescribing Controlled Substances to Pain Patients
Goal: The learner will be able to minimize the risk of pain patients developing substance use disorders through best practice approaches to prescribing opioids and other controlled substances.
Learning Objectives:
- A. Use a Prescribing Strategy. Use a prescribing strategy that minimizes risk of pain medication abuse/addiction
- B. Develop Treatment Agreements. Develop signed treatment agreements describing expectations and obligations for the patient and the provider
- C. Educate Patients. Use patient education to minimize opioid misuse
Course 3: Managing Substance Misuse and Addiction in Ongoing Treatment of Chronic Pain Patients
Goal: The learner will be able to take steps to minimize the development of substance use disorders throughout treatment of chronic pain patients and will be able to monitor chronic pain patients in order to detect substance use disorders when they do occur.
Learning Objectives:
- A. Update Pain Information. Continue to prescribe opioids in accordance with the patient's current pain situation and functioning
- B. Monitor for Substance Abuse. Continue to monitor pain patients for substance abuse and inappropriate use throughout treatment
- C. Address Substance Abuse. Address abuse of prescribed pain medications if it develops by tightening treatment structure and making appropriate referrals
- D. Co-manage Patients. Co-manage patients with specialists and other healthcare providers when appropriate
Course 4: Protecting Your Medical Practice from Diversion Problems
Goal: The learner will be able to educate patients about proper use and storage of pain medications, assess for signs of diversion of pain medications, and take steps to limit diversion from the practice.
Learning Objectives:
- A. Identify Diversion. Identify patients who are diverting medication or whose medication is being diverted
- B. Follow a Clinical Protocol. Follow a clinical protocol that reduces diversion of medications by patients or their family members
- C. Use Practice Management Guidelines. Follow practice management guidelines that reduce risk of diversion
Course 5: Clinical Cases by Pain Condition: Treating Common Pain Conditions While Minimizing Risk of Addiction
Goal: The learner will be able to minimize risk of addiction when prescribing opioids and other controlled substances for treatment of common pain conditions.
Learning Objectives:
- A. Prescribe Opioids Appropriately. Prescribe opioids appropriately when needed in treating common pain conditions
- B. Recognize Misuse. Recognize substance misuse in patients who have common pain conditions
- C. Consult or Refer. Recognize when pain patients require referral to a specialist or consultation
Course 6: Clinical Cases by Substance Use Problem: Treating Pain According to the Type of Substance Use Problem
Goal: The learner will be able to appropriately and sufficiently treat, refer, or comanage pain patients who have untreated addiction, are in current addiction treatment, or are in recovery from addiction.
Learning Objectives:
- A. Manage Pain in Patients with Untreated Addiction. Take patient's addiction into consideration when managing pain patients who have untreated addiction
- B. Optimize Treatment. Determine optimum dosing and duration of pain treatment for patients who are currently in addiction treatment or in recovery
- C. Minimize Risk for Abuse and Relapse. Employ strategies for minimizing risk of abuse and relapse in someone who is in addiction treatment or in recovery
- D. Recognize Abuse and Relapse. Employ strategies for recognizing abuse and relapse in someone who is in addiction treatment or in recovery
- E. Address Misuse/Addiction. Address misuse/addiction to prescribed pain medications if it occurs
Core Courses: Initial Assessment • Initial Prescribing • Ongoing Management • Avoiding Diversion
Clinical Application Courses: Focus on Pain Conditions • Focus on Substance Use Problem
Standardized Patients: Pain and Addiction Standardized Patient Example 1
