FDA-Duke to Host Public Workshop Focused on Key Competencies for Opioid Prescriber Education

Duke-Margolis Center for Public Policy and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are hosting a virtual workshop on April 4^th and 5^th, 2022, focused on alleviating the opioid and substance abuse crisis through improved education for opioid prescribers and other healthcare providers. More specifically, the event will discuss gaps in existing opioid prescriber education offerings and core competencies that should be included in educational content for opioid prescribers and other healthcare providers, including prescriber education under a Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategy (REMS). The event will bring together federal agencies, provider associations, licensing and accrediting organizations, education experts, and other stakeholders.

This workshop will build on discussions from the October 2021 joint Margolis-FDA public workshop on REMS opioid prescriber education.

The workshop runs from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm ET on April 4, 2022, and 1:00 pm to 4:10 pm ET on April 5, 2022.

Among the topics for discussion are:

1) Core competencies for opioid prescriber education,

2) Professional practice gaps in substance use disorder and pain management, and related gaps in current prescriber education,

3) Lessons learned from provider education and continuing medical education initiatives, and

4) next steps for shaping prescriber education efforts.

Some of the speakers set to talk include:

• Daniel Alford, Boston University School of Medicine
• Patrizia Cavazzoni, U.S. Food and Drug Administration
• Kathy Chappell, American Nurses Credentialing Center and National Academy of Medicine (NAM) Health Professional Education and Training Group
• Eric Holmboe, Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education and NAM Health Professional Education and Training Workgroup
• Jan Losby, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• Bobby Mukkamala, American Medical Association Substance Use and Pain Care Task Force
• Yngvild Olsen, Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration

On day two, the afternoon opens with a welcome and overview from Mark McClellan of the Duke-Margolis Center for Health Policy followed by opening remarks from Patrizia Cavazzoni of the FDA. The day then moves on to two speakers before a panel entitled “Examining Core Competencies for Opioid Prescriber Education.” The day concludes with a panel discussion on professional practice gaps in SUD and pain management and related gaps in current prescriber education before brief closing remarks.

On day two, attendees will hear two panel discussions: one on lessons learned from provider education and CME initiatives and another on future directions and the next steps for shaping prescriber education efforts.

If you are interested in registering to attend the virtual workshop, you can do so here.