3 steps for talking with patients about substance use disorder

When a patient with a substance use disorder comes in for a visit, talking to them about treating their addiction in a way that avoids the stigma that surrounds these disorders can be difficult. Learn how one physician approaches this conversation during her addiction consultations with patients. Out in New Mexico, physicians and other medical professionals are putting in a lot of work toward ending the opioid overdose epidemic. Project ECHO (Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes), a free-of-charge distance education model, connects primary care physicians with specialists to help them develop and share knowledge in the care of a variety of complex health conditions The program also has facilitated medication-assisted treatment (MAT) trainings for more than 375 physicians who are now buprenorphine-waivered. But what about the simple yet critical act of beginning the conversation about treatment with a patient who has a substance use disorder? As associate director of Project ECHO, Miriam Komaromy, MD, an internal medicine specialist and addiction consultant in New Mexico, spends the bulk of her clinical time conducting addiction consultations. Beginning the conversation that could save a life Primary care physicians refer patients to Dr. Komaromy so that she can talk with them, get to the heart of the disorder and figure out the best way to structure their treatment plans. When a patient comes in for that first visit, Dr. Komaromy focuses on three things to...
Source: AMA Wire - Category: Journals (General) Authors: Source Type: news