Best Practices in Opioid Prescribing and Pain Management

Format: Self-paced online

An epidemic of opioid misuse, abuse, and overdose is occurring in Minnesota and across the country. In Minnesota, hospitalizations related to opioid use are increasing, there has been a four-fold increase in the number of opioid-related deaths over the past decade, and admissions for treatment of substance use disorders are on the rise. A critical need exists for healthcare professionals to be more aware and educated about best practices and guidelines to effectively manage acute, subacute, and chronic pain and the use of opioids across the pain continuum. The purpose of this continuing education activity is to educate prescribers who manage all phases of pain on the best practices in opioid prescribing and pain management.

The course will include practical tips and tools for providers to use to have more effective conversations with patients regarding pain management. Strategies to effectively manage acute and subacute pain will be reviewed with the goal of alleviating pain and reducing the chronic use of opioids. Best practices in the management of patients on chronic opioid analgesic treatment will be presented. The course includes content on non-pharmacological and implantable device alternatives for the treatment of pain, and a review of the Minnesota Opioid Prescribing Guidelines released in 2018.

Course Structure

This course consists of an introduction, four modules with assessments, and a final assessment. The steps to complete the course and receive credit are:

1. Register for the course by clicking on the "register".
2. Login or create a new account for this CE Portal.
3. View each module and complete the associated attestation or assessment. Modules must be completed in order.
4. Complete the final assessment.
5. Complete the course evaluation and access your Certificate of Participation through My CE in your CE Portal account. Your Certificate of Participation will also be emailed to you.
   

The passing threshold for assessments throughout the course is 70%. Multiple attempts are permitted.

Estimated time to complete: 2 hours

Release date: April 15, 2021

Content valid through: April 15, 2024 

1. Apply current Minnesota Opioid Prescribing Guidelines and best practices across the pain continuum (acute, post-acute, and chronic) to effectively manage pain and reduce opioid use disorder and dependency.
2. Implement interviewing techniques to facilitate difficult conversations with patients regarding their pain management.
3. Identify, implement and educate patients about alternative approaches to treat pain including multi-modal non-pharmacological and implantable device alternatives.
4. Describe and implement a pain-management plan for patients on chronic opioid analgesic therapy.

Registration rate: $40

Registration is non-refundable.

Credit Designation Statements

American Medical Association (AMA)
The University of Minnesota, Interprofessional Continuing Education designates this enduring material for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™.  Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)
This enduring material is awarded up to 2.0 ANCC contact hours.

Other Healthcare Professionals
Other healthcare professionals who participate in this CE activity may submit this statement of participation to their appropriate accrediting organizations or state boards for consideration of credit.  The participant is responsible for determining whether this activity meets the requirements for acceptable continuing education.

MN Providers – Opioid and Controlled Substances CE
This course meets the content requirements for the opioid and controlled substances prescribing continuing education requirement pursuant to Minn. Stat. §214.12, subd. 6. See approved course list.

Note: If you plan to report completion of this course to your licensing Board for consideration toward the State of Minnesota’s continuing education requirement on best practices in prescribing opioids and controlled substances (Minnesota Statute § 214.12, subd. 6, you should include verification of your course completion (Certificate of Participation) and verification of course content (available here) with your submission. University of Minnesota does not submit your completion information to your Board.

Minnesota Board of Medical Practice provides guidance to licensees to email verification of course completion and verification of course content to [email protected] for the Board's consideration towards the continuing education requirement for best practices in prescribing opioids and controlled substances. 

Minnesota Board of Nursing provides guidance to licensees regarding the online system for verification  of completion of opioid continuing education that is available on the Board's website. 

It is the policy of the University of Minnesota Office of Continuing Professional Development to ensure balance, independence, objectivity and scientific rigor in all of its educational activities. All individuals who have influence over activity content are required to disclose to the learners any financial relationships with an ineligible company (formerly known as a commercial interest). Disclosure information is reviewed in advance in order to mitigate any possible conflicts of interest. Specific disclosure information for each presenter, course director, and planning committee member will be shared with learners prior to the start of the course.  Persons who fail to complete the disclosure in advance of the course are not eligible to be involved in this course. Note that the Planners and Faculty for this course have no relevant financial disclosures.

Planning Committee

Mark Rosenberg, MD - Vice Dean for Education and Academic Affairs, University of Minnesota Medical School

Mark Stock, NP-C - Premier Pain Care, PA, Edina, Minnesota

Paul Cho - Medical Student

Jodi Brenden Amir - Accreditation Specialist, Office of Continuing Professional Development, University of Minnesota

Austin Calhoun, PhD - Chief of Staff, Education and Academic Affairs, University of Minnesota Medical School

Faculty

Kaz J. Nelson, MD - Vice Chair of Education, Associate Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences;  Associate Designated Institutional Official, University of Minnesota Medical School

Erin Krebs, MD, MPH - Chief of General Internal Medicine, Minneapolis VA Health Care System; Professor of Medicine, University of Minnesota Medical School

Charles Reznikoff, MD -  Associate Professor, University of Minnesota Medical School; Addiction Medicine, Hennepin Healthcare

Clarence Shannon IV, MD - Associate Dean of Strategy and Innovation, University of Minnesota Medical School;  Director of the Comprehensive Pain Clinic University of Minnesota; Executive Medical Director of Pain Management for M Health Fairview