Read May eNews Hello Everyone, It is with great pride that we send out this message of gratitude to all of you who worked on the Primary Health Care Opioid Response Initiative (PHC ORI). Over the last two years, through the combined efforts of our partner organizations and the teams and individuals that made things…
Read MoreCollaborative Mentorship Network for Chronic Pain and Addiction
By CMN Medical Director, Dr. Cathy Scrimshaw, MD, CCFP The Challenge I have recognized addiction and chronic pain as being a significant part of my practice since starting medicine. It has presented itself in many ways: Liver cirrhosis, secondary to alcohol or hepatitis C; trauma related injuries that over time, become chronic and painful; and…
Read MoreThe PEER Simplified Guideline: Managing Opioid Use Disorder in Primary Care – Released
The Patients Experience Evidence Research (PEER) Team were recently published in the May issue of the Canadian Family Physician for their Simplified Guideline: Managing Opioid Use Disorder in Primary Care. PEER consists of a group of practising family physicians and allied health care practitioners with over 30 years in providing patient care in both rural and…
Read MorePrimary Health Care and the Opioid Crisis – 2019 Updates
The start of this year has already seen many milestones regarding the Primary Health Care Opioid Response Initiative (PHC ORI). The partners on this grant-funded project: The Alberta College of Family Physicians (ACFP), Alberta Medical Association (AMA), Alberta Health Services (AHS), Patients Experience Evidence Research (PEER), and Primary Care Networks, together with Alberta Health have…
Read MoreOpioid Response Initiative – One Year Later
As we approach the one year mark of the Primary Health Care Opioid Response Initiative, it is important to reflect on the incredible milestones we have achieved thus far. With regards to the urgent response, we have seen increased access to treatment and have exceeded our targets. In the past six months there were: 135…
Read MorePractical Workshop: Identifying and Treating Opioid Use Disorder in Primary Care
The Collaborative Mentorship Networks for Chronic Pain and Addiction is travelling across the province to offer family physicians and their teams a fantastic learning opportunity. After this free 3-hour workshop, you can immediately apply the following in your practice (with confidence): identify patients with, or at risk of, Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) engage in a…
Read MoreAs a family physician, what IS the benefit of treating Opioid Use Disorder?
For patients, the evidence is clear that treating Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) in Primary Care results in higher rates of patients retained in treatment, as well as higher rates of patients abstinent from street opioids. We know that family practice provides a trusted space where patients are most comfortable, creating the ideal environment to discuss opioid use,…
Read MoreTreating Chronic Pain…Who you gonna call?
As family physicians we really do see everything when it comes to our patients. From prenatal to palliative care, our patients trust that we will help them through all their medical complexities. In turn, we put pressure on ourselves and our teams to meet their expectations. A couple of months ago my colleague, the shared…
Read MoreOpioid Response: Take Action
Could she be your patient? It’s a typical day at the clinic and a new patient arrives without an appointment. She’s in her early 20s and behaves in an agitated fashion, but she’s polite and trying her best not to disrupt anyone else. The body language of other patients in the waiting room shows curiosity,…
Read MorePrimary Health Care Opioid Response Initiative: Work in Progress
The opioid crisis in Alberta continues to affect communities across the province, and all health system partners have been actively working to address this crisis. Since receiving the grant, the Primary Health Care Opioid Response Initiative (PHC ORI) partnership (ACFP, AMA, AHS aligned with AH) has been leading the primary care response. We have been…
Read MoreResponding to the Opioid Crisis in Your Practice
Read the full June eNews and President’s Message. Patients at risk of opioid dependency are in your practice. Let me repeat this. Patients at risk of opioid dependency are in your practice. The good news is that we can manage those risks through basic chronic disease management approaches. The reality is that we will have…
Read MoreOpioid Response Grant Announced
Primary Health Care Opioid Response Initiative Alberta has dedicated $56 million towards urgent actions to address the opioid crisis, including $30 million dedicated to recommendations made by the Minister’s Opioid Emergency Response Commission. Of the $30 million, $9.5 million provincial grant (over three years) has been established for primary health care. The grant will support…
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