Training and Continuing Education Online (TCEO)

The CE Deadline has been updated to November 5, 2022.

The 2016 CDC Guideline for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain is in the process of being updated to include new evidence and recommendations on acute, subacute, and chronic pain. The updated clinical practice guideline is intended to help improve communication between healthcare professionals and patients and empower them to make informed, patient-centered decisions related to safer and effective pain care.

Providers in the emergency department (ED) are at the forefront of the opioid overdose epidemic. EDs saw a 30% increase in opioid overdose from July 2016 to September 2017. Just three days of opioid treatment can increase the likelihood of long-term opioid use. This may lead to opioid use disorder (OUD). Although opioid prescribing in the ED has declined recently, there is still opportunity for improving opioid administration and prescribing, as well as integrating nonopioid therapies for pain management. Also, given the volume of opioid-related ED visits, ED providers have opportunities to observe signs of OUD or risk for overdose, initiate treatment, and directly assist in the transition to appropriate treatment.

This training will present strategies for improving opioid administration and prescribing in the ED, share ways to recognize signs of OUD, explain the benefits of administering buprenorphine-based medications for opioid use disorder (MOUD) within the ED, and identify other approaches for improving patient outcomes.