Appropriate Prescribing of Controlled Substances:

A web-based training program for health care providers

Sponsored by the Physician Assistant Program in the
Medical University of South Carolina's College of Health Professions

Program description

This enduring activity, supported in part by an educational grant from Purdue Pharma, L.P., offers 15 interactive, multimedia modules covering a broad range of topics related to appropriate prescribing of controlled substances.  Experts from fields such as medicine, pharmacy, psychology, basic sciences, and regulatory agencies share evidence-based education and pearls for prescribing controlled substances judiciously and with liability authority.  Controlled substances may be essential to the management of many patients with acute or chronic pain syndromes, mood disorders, epilepsy, addictive disorders, behavioral illness, and numerous other common medical conditions.  This course seeks to provide the prescriber with the following tools related to appropriate prescribing:  an understanding the pharmacologic principles of controlled substances, an appreciation for the neurobiologic basis of addiction, reliable methods for comprehensive patient assessment and chart documentation, a review of regional and national regulations relating to controlled substances, reliable strategies for preventing drug diversion or abuse, and examples of community resources for impaired prescribers.

Continuing medical education credit

This program has been reviewed and is approved for a maximum of 15 hour of clinical Category I (Preapproved) CME credit by the American Academy of Physician Assistants.  This program was planned in accordance with AAPA's CME Standards for Enduring Educational Programs and for Commercial Support of Enduring Educational Programs.  Participants must successfully complete a program evaluation and post-module test questions in order to receive AAPA credit for participation.

Guest faculty
Kelly W. Jones, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP
Associate Professor
McLeod Family Medicine Residency Program
Florence, South Carolina

M. Sharm Steadman, PharmD, BCPS FASHP CDE
Associate Professor
Family and Preventative Medicine Residency Program
University of South Carolina
Columbia, South Carolina

Medical University of South Carolina faculty
Sarah Book, MD
Assistant Professor
Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences
College of Medicine

Reamer Bushardt, PharmD, RPh, PA-C
Program Director & Assistant Professor, Physician Assistant Program
Department of Clinical Services
College of Health Professions

Anthony J. Chipas, CRNA, PhD
Program Director & Associate Professor, Anesthesia for Nurses Program
Department of Clinical Services
College of Health Professions

John R. Freedy, MD, PhD
Assistant Professor and Director
Behavioral Science Curriculum
Trident Family Medicine Residency
Department of Family Medicine
College of Medicine

Kristi L. Lenz, PharmD, BCOS
Associate Professor
Residency Program Director, Hematology/Oncology
Department of Pharmacy and Clinical Services
College of Pharmacy

Suzanne E. Thomas, PhD
Assistant Professor
Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs
Institute of Psychiatry
College of Medicine

Consulting Faculty and Organizations
R. Cheri Crowley
Group Supervisor
Drug Enforcement Agency
United States Department of Justice
                                                                                                                                       
M. Banks Smith, RPh                                                                                                    
Bureau of Drug Control
South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control

Buck Harvey, PA-C
Physician Assistant Advisory Committee, Board of Medical Examiners
South Carolina Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation

Partial support for program development has been made available through an unrestricted educational donation from Purdue Pharma, LP.

System requirements
Participation with this program requires high speed internet access and use of Internet Explorer. If you do not have high speed internet, please call to request a DVD and hard copies of program handouts and examinations. 

After registration form is received and processed, participants will be granted a unique  user name and password which can be used to access the online course. Directions for use of this simple educational interface are also available in the following file:

Directions for Use of WebCT

Payment information
Payment may be made in the form of personal check, money order, or credit card (i.e. Visa or Mastercard).  Checks should be made payable to MUSC Department of Clinical Services. No refunds will be made once a username and password has been delivered to the registrant.

Questions?

Call 843-792-1913 or 1-800-651-2926

or send us an e-mail at simmshe@musc.edu

Program Topics

Introduction to Expanded Prescriptive Authority & Regulatory Process
Buck Harvey, PA-C, Chair, PA Advisory Committee

Understanding Controlled Substances & Anxiolytics in the Treatment of Mental Illness
M. Sharm Steadman, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP, CDE

Appropriate Use of Sedatives/Hypnotics in the Treatment of Sleep Disorders
M. Sharm Steadman, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP, CDE

Pharmacology Potpourri
Reamer L. Bushardt, PharmD, PA-C

Practical Approach to the Pharmacologic Management of Pain: Pharmacology Review and Practice Pearls
Kelly W. Jones, PharmD, BCPS, FASHP

Pharmacologic Interventions for Common Neurologic Pain Syndromes: Migraine and Tension Headache, Post-herpetic Neuralgia
Maribeth Kowalski, PharmD

End of Life Issues and Appropriate Use of Opioid and Opiod-like Analgesics in Oncology and Palliative Care
Kristi Lenz, PharmD

Documentation and Patient Monitoring for Pain Management
Kristi Lenz, PharmD

Overview of Drug Abuse and Addictive Behaviors
Suzanne Thomas, PhD

Practice Pearls in Addictionology
Sarah Book, MD

Practice Pearls for the Management of acute and Post-surgical Pain
Anthony Chipas, PhD, CRNA

Pharmacotherapeutic Uses for Psychomotor Stimulants
John Freedy, MD, PhD

Review of Controlled Substances Law and Regulation & Treatment for the Impaired Prescriber
M. Banks Smith, RPh, SC DHEC Bureau of Drug Control

Prescribing Controlled Substances with Liabiity Authority: Ethical Case Studies and Pearls for Diversion Prevention
R. Cheri Crowley, Drug Enforcement Agency

Registration Links
Online
Fax or Mail in Form and Instructions