The Massachusetts Medical Society has long been a leader in providing continuing medical education about critical public health issues, including pain management.
In an effort to remove as many barriers as possible to prescriber education, the MMS is making the following CME/CPD activities on pain management and opioid prescribing available to all prescribers for free until further notice.
Opioid Assessment and Treatment Tools and Resources for Physicians
MMS Opioid Therapy and Physician Communication Guidelines
These guidelines promulgated by the Massachusetts Medical Society in 2015 have general applicability and are most relevant in primary care. MMS supports the position that physicians must use their best clinical judgment in the treatment of all patients.
New
: Physician/Prescriber Reminders When Prescribing Opioids (pdf)
New
: Patient Reminders When Using Prescribed Opioids (pdf)
NEJM Knowledge+ Pain Management and Opioids
Pain
Management and Opioids, a module from NEJM Knowledge+, helps health
care providers implement safer strategies for pain
management and earn state-mandated CME credits. Sixty-two case-based
questions, written by experts in pain management and addiction, reflect
the types of cases experienced in daily practice and cover the FDA’s
Opioid Analgesic REMS Education Blueprint.
Pain Management and Opioids was created in partnership with the Boston University School of Medicine SCOPE of Pain and is
provided free of charge through an unrestricted educational grant. Registration is available through NEJM
Knowledge+.
Webinar: Incorporating the New Opioid Prescribing Guidelines Into Practice
This Massachusetts Medical Society webinar discusses:
- Recent trends in opioid prescribing and their relationship to opioid misuse
- Principles for safe opioid prescribing
- New Massachusetts opioid prescribing guidelines, for acute care and chronic care
Go to the webinar
MMS Free CME on Opioids
Massachusetts
General Hospital for Children: Interactive, Online CME activities
- Pediatric Pain Management
This interactive activity will enable clinicians to accurately assess pain in patients in various stages of development, identify warning signs, and select appropriate management strategies when treating headache and chronic abdominal pain. (Free) - Pediatric End of Life Care
This interactive activity explores the role of pediatric palliative care. Specific tools are provided to empower the clinician to initiate end of life care discussions with patients and their families, aid the family in advance care planning, and support the family after the death of their child.
Concepts will be illustrated through interviews depicting families’ struggles with end of life care. Videos were provided by the Courageous Parents Network. (Free) - MOC Part II: Pediatric Respiratory Disorders
25 multiple choice questions with rationale and references. Assess your areas of strengths as well as keep current on new developments in the field of pediatric respiratory disorders. (Free)
Boston Children's Hospital: Pediatric Pain and Opioid Education
This program provides training in acute and chronic pain management for pediatric patients, with an emphasis on safe and effective opioid use. Topics covered include neurobiology of pain; addiction, abuse and and safe opioid prescription practices; licensing, the law and opioid prescribing; treatment of chronic pain; and safe storage and disposal of medications.
Credits
Boston Children's Hospital is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians. Boston Children's Hospital designates this enduring material for a maximum of 3.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The Massachusetts Board of Registration in Medicine has reviewed and approved the course to fulfill the state opioid training requirement.
Additional Clinician Education
Developed by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Massachusetts Medical Society, Boston University School of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Tufts School of Medicine, and the University of Massachusetts School of Medicine.
This SAMHSA funded site provides colleague support resources, a mentor directory, clinical resources and guidelines, free online CME webinars on subjects like safe prescribing and medication assisted treatment, and a downloadable mobile application designed to aid in safe opioid prescribing.
Online education for primary care physicians in the treatment of patients with chronic pain, with resources page, and links to more education at www.opioidprescribing.org which focuses on effective communication skills, potential risks and benefits of opioids, and when and how to initiate, maintain, modify, and discontinue opioid therapy.
Online education program about which opioid prescribing practices are now mandated by law and which are recommended by state and national guidelines to allow for the medically appropriate and safe use of opioids for the treatment of pain.
Offers two test-and-teach case modules for safe prescribing for pain, and managing pain patients who abuse prescription drugs.
Screening and Assessment Tools
Downloadable tools for opioid risk assessment. The Screener and Opioid Assessment for Patients in Pain (SOAPP) helps prescribers plan long-term opioid treatments. A tutorial is available. The Current Opioid Misuse Measure (COMM) helps prescribers determine if patients on long-term opioid treatment may be misusing their medication.
Screening for Drug Use in General Medical Settings
National Institute of Drug Abuse guide for screening for drug use in adult patients.
Opioid Risk Tool (ORT)
Downloadable two page self-report screening tool for use in primary care settings to assess risk for opioid abuse in chronic pain patients.
Opioid Overdose Prevention
Prescribe to Prevent
Education, guidance, downloadable tools for prescribers in primary care, chronic pain, palliative care, and emergency medicine settings to prescribe naloxone (Narcan) rescue kits. Also includes sections for patients and pharmacists, as well as legal information and FAQs.
Legal
Massachusetts Online Prescription Monitoring Program
Allows prescribers and pharmacists to view a patient’s past year prescription history. Find PMP enrollment forms, online portal log-in, training webinars, and a guide to interpreting PMP data here.
Referral Resources
SAMSHA Substance Abuse Treatment Facility Locator
Search treatment facilities and providers by geographic location and specific services offered, including inpatient facilities, outpatient mental health services and buprenorphine physicians.
Massachusetts Substance Abuse Information and Education Hotline: (800) 327-5050
Questions?
Contact us at
SmartScriptsMA@mms.org
