Training series on opioid misuse scheduled this spring in southeast Idaho  

Project ECHO, part of the University of Idaho WWAMI Medical Education Program, is partnering with the Southeast Idaho Area Health Education Center (AHEC) and the Idaho State University Institute of Rural Health on five one-hour training sessions focusing on the best ways to treat patients with pain or opioid-use disorder. Each video conferencing session will consist of a brief lecture on a specific topic and a review of a real-world patient case.

Because patients affected with opioid-use disorder are likely to encounter the full spectrum of healthcare professionals working on their behalf, the training sessions are open to all healthcare workers in southeast Idaho. This includes physicians, nurses, pharmacists, physician assistants, social workers, nurse practitioners and more. Health professions faculty and students are also encouraged to tune in for the sessions. Participants will earn free continuing medical education for each session.

Each training will focus on a different aspect of opioid misuse and can be streamed via videoconference. The sessions originate from the Idaho Water Center at U of I Boise.

The first session is Thursday, April 25, and focuses on dispelling the common myths and misconceptions of using medication assisted treatments to treat opioid-use disorder. Trainings continue through June 27 and are scheduled from 12:15-1:15 p.m. Mountain time Thursdays. A complete schedule is available at www.uidaho.edu/echo.

Project ECHO is a program designed to help primary care providers in rural and underserved communities treat complex chronic diseases with specialist-level expertise through bi-weekly seminars and other resources state on opioid and behavioral health-related topics. Additional information about Project ECHO is available at www.uidaho.edu/echo.