PAINWeek Offers FDA-Approved ER/LA Opioid Prescriber Education at No Cost
Montclair, NJ (PRWEB) August 01, 2013 -- As an element of its focus on prescription analgesic safety, PAINWeek, the National Conference on Pain for Frontline Practitioners, today announced that the 2013 program agenda will include a 3-hour educational activity that complies with the FDA’s Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) for Extended-Release and Long-Acting (ER/LA) Opioids. There is no cost to attend the program, and all interested healthcare professionals are invited.
Presented by the American Pain Society (APS), the certified-for-credit course is entitled “Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) for Extended-Release and Long-Acting Opioids: Achieving Safe Use While Improving Patient Care,” and will be offered on Thursday, September 5. APS is a member of the Collaborative on REMS Education (CO*RE), an entity composed of 10 interdisciplinary organizations working together to improve pain management and prevent adverse outcomes. This ER/LA opioid REMS initiative is supported by an independent educational grant from ER/LA Opioid Analgesic REMS Program Companies (RPC).
The course is intended to increase the knowledge of prescribers of ER/LA opioids so that they can more confidently and effectively manage patients on these medications. The program will provide general and product-specific drug information for this class of medications. Specific topics to be covered include: assessing patients for treatment with ER/LA opioid analgesics; how to initiate therapy, modify dose, and discontinue use of ER/LA opioid analgesics; managing ongoing therapy with ER/LA opioid analgesics; and counseling patients and caregivers about the safe use, storage, and disposal of ER/LA opioid analgesics. REMS course faculty includes: Charles Argoff, MD, CPE, of Albany Medical College; Katherine Galluzzi, DO, of the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine; Sandra Keavey, MPAS, DFAAPA, from Fayetteville Pain Center in Fayetteville, NC; and Barbara St. Marie, PhD, ANP-BC, GNP-BC, ACHPN, of Fairview Ridges Hospital in Burnsville, MN, and the University of Iowa.
APS President Roger Fillingim, PhD, said “I am delighted that the American Pain Society is participating in PAINWeek for the second year in a row. Our ER/LA REMS course, together with our new course track on evidence-based pain assessment and treatment, are excellent opportunities for frontline practitioners to get the latest information on these critical topics in pain management.”
Debra Weiner, Director of Program Development for PAINWeek added, “In view of the public health crisis surrounding the use, abuse, diversion, and overdosing associated with extended release/long acting opioids, PAINWeek is excited to partner with APS to provide this REMS-compliant program to our attendees, and to make it available at no cost to all interested practitioners in the area.”
About PAINWeek
PAINWeek is the largest US pain conference for frontline practitioners with an interest in pain management. Convening for its 7th year on September 4-7, 2013, in Las Vegas, PAINWeek expects to welcome over 1800 physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other healthcare professionals for a comprehensive program of course offerings, satellite events, and exhibits. Over 100 hours of continuing medical education activities will be presented. To learn more about the conference, opportunities for participation, and to register for PAINWeek 2013, visit http://www.painweek.org.
Debra Weiner, Aventine Co., http://www.painweek.org, 973-233-4459, [email protected]
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