Pain Management and Opioid Risk Education for Prescribing Optometrists

Instructor: David Shein, MD

This course satisfies the MA Dept of Public Health requirement for optometric license renewal under M.G.L. c. 94C, §18(e). It provides a concise overview of pain management strategies, emphasizing safe, evidence-based use of non-narcotic and opioid therapies. It reviews key medications, non-drug treatments, clinical considerations, and risk-reduction practices, along with essential principles of opioid prescribing, monitoring, toxicity management, and referral for opioid use disorder.

By the end of this course, you will:

1. Review non-narcotic pain treatments including key medications, dosing basics, interactions, and non-drug approaches.
   
2. Understand core opioid prescribing principles such as appropriateness, safety, monitoring, and patient counseling.
   
3. Identify risks for opioid misuse, adverse effects, and medical complications.
   
4. Recognize and manage opioid toxicity and know available treatments and referral options for OUD.

COPE Course # 102158-PB

COPE Activity # 132061