Advanced Medical Course: Tapering Patients Off Chronic Opioid Therapy

Course Description

This advanced medical course, offered by StanfordOnline, focuses on the critical topic of safely and compassionately tapering patients off chronic opioid therapy. The course is designed for healthcare providers who want to enhance their skills in managing patients on long-term opioid treatment. Through a comprehensive approach, participants will learn to recognize when the risks of chronic opioid therapy outweigh the benefits and how to effectively transition patients to alternative pain management strategies.

What Students Will Learn

• Recognizing the point at which chronic opioid therapy risks exceed benefits
• Effective communication strategies to discuss risks with patients
• Safe and compassionate tapering techniques, including the use of buprenorphine
• Providing emotional support during withdrawal periods
• Identifying signs of opioid use disorder and appropriate intervention methods
• Counseling patients on non-opioid alternatives for chronic pain management
• When and how to refer patients for addiction treatment

Prerequisites

While no specific prerequisites are listed, this is an advanced-level course. Participants should have a background in healthcare, particularly in pain management or primary care. A basic understanding of opioid medications and their effects would be beneficial.

Course Content

• Assessment of risks and benefits in chronic opioid therapy
• Patient communication techniques for discussing opioid tapering
• Strategies for successful outpatient tapering of chronic opioid therapy
• Use of buprenorphine in opioid tapering
• Recognition and management of opioid use disorder
• Non-opioid alternatives for chronic pain management
• Case scenarios illustrating practical application of course concepts

Target Audience

This course is ideal for healthcare providers, including physicians, nurses, pharmacists, and other medical professionals who manage patients on chronic opioid therapy. It's particularly valuable for those working in pain management, primary care, or addiction medicine.

Real-World Application

The skills acquired in this course are directly applicable to clinical practice. Healthcare providers will be better equipped to:

1. Make informed decisions about continuing or tapering opioid therapy
2. Implement safe and effective tapering plans
3. Improve patient communication and support during the challenging process of opioid withdrawal
4. Identify and address opioid use disorders
5. Offer alternative pain management strategies to improve patient outcomes

Syllabus Overview

1. Introduction to chronic opioid therapy risks and benefits
2. Patient communication strategies
3. Opioid tapering techniques and best practices
4. Use of buprenorphine in tapering
5. Recognizing and managing opioid use disorder
6. Non-opioid pain management alternatives
7. Case study analysis
8. Referral strategies for addiction treatment