Addressing the opioid epidemic is one of WSHA’s top legislative and patient safety priorities. Together with our state’s Accountable Communities of Health, we worked to develop a template to expand access to treatment for opioid abuse in emergency departments, which is often the first point of treatment for those battling addiction. In an effort to expand access to treatment, the Washington State Department of Health and the American Society of Addiction Medicine are sponsoring upcoming courses to help providers become waivered to prescribe buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid dependence and opioid use disorder. The first will take place March 15 in Wenatchee. Contact Dr. Eric Olson for details.
Others will take place as part of the NW Rural Health Conference in Spokane March 26 and in Olympia May 25 (contact Dr. Lucinda Grande for details about the Olympia course). Physicians, ARNPs, physician assistants and clinic staff who serve these patients are invited to attend. (Ian Corbridge)
