Prescription Opioid Management Advisory Task Force - Phase I
Background
The MMA convened a physician-only task force from November 2012 – May 2014 to study the issue of prescription opioid addiction, abuse and diversion in Minnesota. Information about the 19-member task force, their objectives, and their accomplishments can be found below.
Sample of Activities Achieved To Advance Task Force Charge
- Published a dedicated issue of Minnesota Medicine on the Opioid Crisis (March 2013);
- Established a prescription opioid webpage on MMA website.
- Convened three member forums, “The Role of Physicians in Prescription Opioid Abuse, Addiction and Diversion: A Candid Conversation.”
- Partnered with ICSI (Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement) in developing an Acute Pain Assessment and Opioid Prescribing Protocol.
- Secured national grant to deliver free CME program (live and enduring) on extended release and long-acting opioids (consistent with the FDA Risk Education and Mitigation Strategy [REMS]); content also included pain management and opioid dependency management.
- Special opioid update publication distributed with Minnesota Medicine (September 2014)
- Recommended policy to MMA Board of Trustees to support legislative initiatives (and subsequently worked to support legislative passage) as follows:
- Changes to Minnesota Prescription Monitoring Program
- Naloxone/Good Samaritan Law
- Sponsored a resolution at 2013 MMA Annual Meeting regarding advancing efforts to ease physicians’ use of the Minnesota Prescription Monitoring Program as part of physician electronic health record workflow processes.
- Worked in partnership with local experts, the Steve Rummler Hope Foundation, and the University of Minnesota Medical School, to produce accredited video educational modules – Pain, Opioid and Addiction Lecture Series
Objectives
The purpose of the MMA Prescription Opioid Management Advisory Task Force is as follows:
- to raise awareness among Minnesota physicians about the nature and extent of the problems associated with prescription opioid addiction, abuse, and diversion;
- to examine specific strategies for improving physician management of opioid prescribing (e.g., education, use of Minnesota Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, controlled substance contracts, etc.);
- to identify and disseminate to physicians resources and tools for opioid prescribing best practices; and
- to facilitate MMA participation in multidisciplinary, community-wide conversations/coalitions aimed at addressing prescription opioid addiction, abuse, and diversion.
Advisory Task Force Members
- Alfred Anderson, M.D. (Pain Medicine)
- Richard Andrews, M.D. (Family Medicine)
- Beth Averbeck, M.D. (Internal Medicine)
- Beth Baker, M.D. (Occupational Medicine)
- Paul Biewen, M.D. (Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation)
- Elisabeth Bilden, M.D., (Emergency Medicine/Toxicology)
- William Dicks, M.D. (Family Medicine/Pain Medicine)
- Mark Eggen, M.D. (Anesthesia)
- Howard Epstein, M.D. (Chief Health Systems Officer, Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement)
- Tom Flynn, M.D. (Oncology)
- Donald Grossbach, M.D. (Hospice and Palliative Medicine)
- Christopher Johnson, M.D. (Emergency Medicine)
- Zach Lopater, M.D. (Resident)
- David Schultz, M.D. (Anesthesia/Pain Medicine)
- Yael Smiley (Student)
- Keith Stelter, M.D. (Family Medicine)
- Lindsey Thomas, M.D. (Forensic Pathology)
- Joseph Westermeyer, M.D. (Addiction/Substance Abuse)
- Drew Zinkel, M.D. (Emergency Medicine)
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