Prescription Opioids and Pain Management: The Tennessee Guidelines

Course Overview
Opioid analgesic medications can bring substantial relief to patients suffering from pain. However, the inappropriate use, abuse, and diversion of prescription drugs in America, particularly prescription opioids, has increased dramatically in recent years and has been identified as a national public health epidemic. Tennessee continues to rank in the top 10 states according to per capita prescription rate for opioids in the United States, and unintentional overdose deaths continue to increase each year. In response, the state has established tools and guidelines for prescribers who prescribe patients with opioids. By implementing these tools, clinicians can effectively address issues related to the clinical management of opioid prescribing, opioid risk management, regulations surrounding the prescribing of opioids, and problematic opioid use by patients. In doing so, healthcare professionals are more likely to achieve a balance between the benefits and risks of opioid prescribing, optimize patient attainment of therapeutic goals, and avoid the risk to patient outcome, public health, and viability of their own practice imposed by deficits in knowledge.

Learning Outcomes 
Upon the completion of this course, the learner should be able to:

• Apply epidemiologic trends in opioid use and misuse to current practice so at-risk patient populations can be more easily identified, evaluated, and treated.
• Devise treatment plans for patients with pain that address patient needs, inform patient expectations, and reduce the risk of drug misuse and diversion in accordance with Tennessee clinical practice guidelines.
• Evaluate behaviors that may indicate drug seeking or diverting as well as approaches for patients suspected of misusing opioids.
• Apply state and federal laws governing the proper prescription and monitoring of controlled substances.
   

About the Author/Presenter 
John M. Leonard, MD, Professor of Medicine Emeritus, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, completed his post-graduate clinical training at the Yale and Vanderbilt University Medical Centers before joining the Vanderbilt faculty in 1974. He is a clinician-educator and for many years served as director of residency training and student educational programs for the Vanderbilt University Department of Medicine. Over a career span of 40 years, Dr. Leonard conducted an active practice of general internal medicine and an inpatient consulting practice of infectious diseases.

Audience/Accreditations and Approvals 
TRC Healthcare/ NetCE 
In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by TRC Healthcare/ NetCE. TRC Healthcare/NetCE is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team. 
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Nursing, Physician

Colibri Healthcare 
This course is designed for the following healthcare professions (select your profession for details): 
Respiratory Therapy

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