Continuing Education

Safe and Effective Pain Care: A Comprehensive Guide for Opioid Prescribing in Primary Care

The Northeast Pennsylvania Area Health Education Center (NE PA AHEC) has been selected as a participating partner for a national clinical curriculum: Safe and Effective Pain Care: A Comprehensive Guide for Opioid Prescribing in Primary Care. This partnership with the National AHEC Organization (NAO) and Pri-Med aims to equip local primary care clinicians with the advanced skills needed to assess, diagnose, and treat pain while minimizing the risk of opioid dependence.

Millions of Americans live with acute and chronic pain and healthcare providers are essential in ensuring they receive safe, effective care.

Pri-Med Institute offers Safe and Effective Pain Care, a free, 4-hour, self-paced online course designed to strengthen confidence in pain assessment, treatment planning, and responsible opioid prescribing. The curriculum is fully compliant with the U.S. FDA Opioid Analgesic REMS education requirements. Comprehensive pain care is a team effort. Every member of the care team will benefit from the modules on non-pharmacologic options, recognizing signs of misuse, and supporting patients through the tapering process.

Target Audience:

Priority Audience – Prescribing Clinicians (MD, DO, NP, PA): Prescribing healthcare providers seeking to master FDA-compliant pain management and satisfy REMS education requirements.

The Full Healthcare Team: Content is highly relevant to all team members, including Nurses, Pharmacists, Social Workers, Community Health Workers, Care Coordinators, etc., to ensure a unified approach to patient safety.

Future Professionals: Students in Medical, Nursing, and Physician Assistant programs are encouraged to participate to build a strong foundation in evidence-based pain care.

This CME Training is:

FREE

Online

Self-paced

4 hours

Accredited Program:

4 AMA PRA Credits

4 AANP Contact Hours

3 AANP Pharmacology Hours

Register on Pri-Med

Expiration Date: 10/31/2026

Northeast PA AHEC’s mission has always been to enhance access to quality healthcare in Northeast Pennsylvania. By being selected for this initiative, we are ensuring our local Doctors, Nurses, and Physician Assistants have the best possible tools to manage pain safely and effectively within our community.

Clinicians who participate will learn a full spectrum of pain management, including non-pharmacologic options and strategies for safely tapering opioids. Participation status for local providers will be shared with the NAO to track regional progress in opioid safety education.

For more information and to access the curriculum, visit the Pri-Med website.

For questions or assistance, please contact Leslie Petroff, MPH, Northeast PA AHEC.

Email Leslie

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