Education & Events

A4PN Community of Practice events

These are multi-disciplinary educational events featuring presentations from sector experts, including local Addiction Medicine Specialists.  They are a fantastic opportunity for cross-sector networking and continuing professional development.

Please contact A4PN@semphn.org.au to find out more about this event or other upcoming events.

 

 

Prescriber training for Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence (MATOD)

MATOD prescriber training (for GPs and Nurse Practitioners) consists of three parts:

  1. MATOD Module 1 – Safer Opioid Prescribing
  2. MATOD Module 2 – Opioid Use Disorder, Pharmacology & Dosing
  3. MATOD Module 3 – Long-acting Injectable Buprenorphine

On completion of Modules 1 and 2, prescribers will be trained and recognised as an authorised prescriber for methadone and buprenorphine based assisted treatment of opioid dependence.  Futher details about each Module are outlined below.

 

MATOD Module 1 – Safer Opioid Prescribing

An introduction to implement safe and effective opioid prescribing and to recognise, prevent and respond to problematic opioid abuse. This training is a prerequisite for prescribers who want to attend MATOD Module 2.

MATOD Module 1: Access here

Learning outcomes

  1. Implement safe and effective opioid prescribing as part of a broader pain management plan.
  2. Summarise the potential benefits and risks associated with opioid prescribing
  3. Recognise, prevent and respond to problematic pharmaceutical opioid use.
  4. Assess the appropriateness of and commence induction of a patient on one of the Opioid Replacement Therapies – Buprenorphine

This event attracts 4 RACGP CPD points.

 

MATOD Module 2 – Opioid Use Disorder, Pharmacology & Dosing

A comprehensive series of modules with videos and interviews with MATOD experts. It includes live zoom session that will allow participants to ask questions of the experts.

On completion of modules 1 and 2 prescribers will be trained and recognised as an authorised prescriber for methadone and buprenorphine based assisted treatment of opioid dependence.

Learning outcomes

  1. Assess patients presenting with problematic opioid use
  2. Outline the criteria for the diagnosis of Opioid Use Disorder
  3. Address the legislative requirements relating to prescribing of buprenorphine and methadone
  4. Implement opioid and methadone prescribing as part of a broader Opioid Use Disorder management plan
  5. Describe MATOD-related referral and support pathways

This event attracts 40 RACGP CPD points.

 

MATOD Module 3 – Long-acting Injectable Buprenorphine

Builds on knowledge of prescribing and administering long-acting injection buprenorphine, including how to select, initiate and manage patients who are using these new opioid substitutions.

Learning outcomes

  1. Correctly interpret legislative frameworks and evidence-based clinical guidelines for the use of Long-Acting Injection Buprenorphine
  2. Describe the options available for opioid dependent people who are considering Long-Acting Injection Buprenorphine
  3. Apply pharmaceutical knowledge and rationale to the prescribing principles for Long-Acting Injection Buprenorphine

This event attracts 4 RACGP CPD points.

 

Please contact MATOD Program Coordinator, Hannah Lack on 03 8699 0957 or via email at vic.MATOD@racgp.org.au if you don’t have a RACGP number.

 

 

Pharmacist training for Medication Assisted Treatment of Opioid Dependence (MATOD)

This training is delivered by the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia (PSA) and is referred to as the Victorian Opioid Pharmacotherapy Program.

The aim of this training is to provide pharmacists and pharmacy support staff with the relevant knowledge, skills and tools required to identify those who would benefit from pharmacotherapy, engage in a discussion of the benefits of the program in a non-stigmatising manner and deliver a safe and consumer focused Opioid Replacement Therapy service in their pharmacy.

This is a Victorian State Government funded program and is FREE to all pharmacists and pharmacy staff in Victoria, regardless of membership with the PSA.

Click here to enroll or to find out more.

 

 

Project ECHOhttp://i9.cmail19.com/ei/i/44/214/667/csimport/ECHO_logo-300x157.082619.png

The Victorian Opioid Management Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) Hub is an initiative of the Victorian Pharmacotherapy Area-Based Networks.

This is a free learning and guided practice program on opioid management delivered via teleconferencing sessions.   The program sessions are a blend of didactic learning and case-based discussion.  They are delivered live every Wednesday morning at 7.30am-8.30am and are led by the expert addiction specialist team from St. Vincent’s Hospital Melbourne. Practitioners who present cases receive take-home recommendations for their patient and all participants receive knowledge they can apply in their practice. Sessions are run as friendly, open environments, with an ‘All-teach, All-learn’ philosophy.

The sessions are delivered entirely by video-conferencing technology. All you need to access a session is a web-enabled device with a camera and microphone (virtually all modern devices, including smart phones) and a broadband connection. Full support is available to get you connected.

This Project aims to bring specialist knowledge and support in opioid management to health professionals in Victoria.  The project has been driven by the three rural Pharmacotherapy Networks as a means of supporting generalist practitioners in rural areas, but is available to all Victorian prescribers and clinicians.

To register or to learn more, visit the ECHO page on the Pharmacotherapy Area-Based Network (PABN) website: http://echo.pabn.org.au/

 

More information about the ECHO model is available here:

ECHO intro video (1min 30sec): https://youtu.be/Faz3O1clDMU

Queensland Health intro video (1min 20sec): https://vimeo.com/224895333

TEDx talk by the ECHO founder, Sanjeev Arora:  https://youtu.be/lY5nlJxac0g

Queensland Health presentation by ECHO founder, Sanjeev Arora:  https://www.childrens.health.qld.gov.au/chq/health-professionals/project-echo/

 

 

Meducate Opioid Stewardship online modules – free training for GPs and pharmacists

Prescription medicines kill more people than the road toll. This statistic reminds us of how opioid stewardship is now as relevant and as necessary as antibiotic stewardship.  This online training identifies three stages in patient care during which opioid prescribing can be an issue:

-Initiation of opioids in acute pain
-Initiation of opioids in chronic pain
-Management of patients already prescribed high dose opioids

Click here to access the Meducate Opioid Stewardship Modules.