Feb 10, 2016, 15:14 PM
by
Grace Whittington
Health care professionals who prescribe extended-release (ER) and long-acting (LA) opioid analgesics (ER/LA opioid analgesics) are in a key position to balance the benefits of prescribing ER/LA opioid analgesics to treat pain against the risks of serious adverse outcomes. Appropriate prescribing practices and patient education are important steps to help address this public health problem. Health care professionals who prescribe ER/LA opioid analgesics have a responsibility to help ensure the safe and effective use of these drug products. Because of this, the FDA has initiated ER/LA Risk Evaluation Mitigation Strategies (REMS) designed to ensure that the benefits of ER/LA opioid analgesics outweigh the risks (in patients whose clinicians have determined ER/LA opioid analgesics to be an appropriate treatment option). Because PM&R physicians treat a population whose care often involves Schedule 2 and 3 controlled substances, AAPM&R applied for grants to develop 2 highly interactive educational activities for physicians in order to take a leadership role in maximizing their knowledge to ensure proper care for patients while addressing this public health crisis.
An interactive, online activity will be released this spring on mē® and an Interactive Pain Arcade will be available for physicians at the 2016 Annual Assembly. The Interactive Pain Arcade is a self-directed, hands-on education experience, combining multimedia information areas with mobile devices to provide participants a unique experience. Video clips, mini-presentations, posters, and other media will be used to convey the material in a meaningful way. There are no fees to participate in either activity.
Watch your email and AAPM&R publications for more information about this important topic and plan to participate in these activities to maximize the impact PM&R physicians have on patient care and public health.
These educational activities are supported by an independent educational grant from the EL/RA Opioid Analgesic REMS Program Companies. Please see this listing of the member companies. This activity is intended to be fully compliant with the ER/LA Opioid Analgesics REMS education requirements issued by the US Food & Drug Administration.