Managing Pain with Opioid Analgesics
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New Users
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Auditing Guests and Return Visitors
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Course Description
Opioid analgesics can be an effective choice for treating moderate to severe pain and increasing tolerance for daily activities. However, there are significant obstacles to safe prescribing and appropriate use of these medications, including fears and misunderstandings about addiction, and the risk among some patients for misuse or abuse of medication. Add incomplete documentation, poor coordination among caregivers and lack of an organized pain management plan, and involved clinicians may be targeted in litigation in the wake of a poor outcome. NORCAL’s claims experience relative to opioid medications shows a relationship between these factors and subsequent allegations of negligent prescribing.
Who Should Take This Course
- Healthcare providers who treat patients in pain, particularly primary care physicians
Learning Objectives
To more effectively treat patient pain without increasing misuse/abuse of medications, implement a systematic, well-planned approach to pain management by documenting each step in patient medical records.
To facilitate informed consent, patient education and compliance, develop a "Therapeutic Agreement for Opioid Use" that documents the treatment plan, outlines physician and patient responsibilities, and describes the consequences if the agreement is violated.
Faculty
Steven D. Feinberg, MD
Board Certified in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Electrodiagnostic Medicine & Pain Medicine (Private Practice)
Palo Alto, California
Medical Advisor, Bay Area Pain Program
San Jose, California
Adjunct Associate Clinical Professor, Department of Functional Restoration and Department of Anesthesia
Stanford University Medical School
Board of Directors, American Chronic Pain Association and California Academy of Pain Medicine
Accreditation Statement
NORCAL Mutual Insurance Company is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to provide continuing medical education for physicians.
Credit Designation Statement
NORCAL Mutual Insurance Company designates this educational activity for a maximum of 2 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Original release date: September 2005
Expiration date: September 2008
