Duluth, GA – Mark Pew, PRIUM’s senior vice president of product development, will present “Opioid Abuse and Pain Management Strategies” at the West Virginia Self-Insurers Association’s Annual Conference on Oct. 24.
Presenting with Janice Van Allen, Walmart’s director of workers’ compensation, Pew discusses the appropriate use of opioids, opioid misuse and abuse and non-drug methods of managing pain.
“Workers’ compensation patients taking opioids tend to take other medications, including some to counteract the side effects of the opioids,” Pew said. “Injured workers may be taking eight to twelve drugs, and this polypharmacy can do more harm than good.”
Using case studies, the presentation covers using evidence-based medicine to hold collegial conversations with treating physicians to secure changes to drug regimens, the discontinuation/weaning process, and aggressive oversight to ensure changes occur. It also outlines several pain management alternatives to drugs, such as physical therapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, yoga and other forms of exercise.
“Some functional restoration and pain management clinics are reporting great success in weaning patients off opioids by helping them understand why they are dependent on or addicted to drugs and teaching them ways to manage their pain and prevent relapses,” Pew said.
Scheduled for 9 a.m. on Thursday, Oct. 24, “Opioid Abuse – Pain Strategies” is part of the 28th Annual Conference of the West Virginia Self-Insurers Association. The conference will be held at the Charleston Marriott Hotel in Charleston, West Virginia, Oct. 23-24; for more information click here.
Source: PRIUM/King Knight Communications