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Providence’s WJAR-TV/NBC 10 features UMass Medical School’s opioid safe-prescribing curriculum

A new report from WJAR-TV/NBC 10 of Providence highlights UMass Medical School’s Opioid Safe-prescribing Training Immersion program, which was recognized by the Association of American Medical Colleges last year with its Curricular Innovation Award.

UMass Medical School developed the training program in 2016 in response to the opioid crisis, and it is required curriculum for Massachusetts medical students and graduate nursing students that includes 10 core competencies for the prevention and management of prescription drug misuse. Students are taught the evaluation of a patient’s level of pain and risk of addiction, various patient-centered treatment options, evidence-based pain management and the appropriate use of medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence.

In the new TV feature, health reporter Barbara Morse Silva observes the training.

“The program utilizes standardized patients, who are patient actors portraying patients, and students who are teamed up for an assessment,” she said.

Melissa Fischer, MD, MEd, professor of medicine, associate dean for undergraduate education and curriculum innovation and executive director of the Interpersonal Center for Experiential Learning and Simulation, and Jill Terrien, PhD, ANP-BC, associate professor in the Graduate School of Nursing, are interviewed for the story.

Watch the full WJAR-TV NBC Health Check segment.

Related stories on UMassMedNow:
UMass Medical School recognized with national award for opioid safe-prescribing curriculum
Nearly 800 trained through UMMS opioid safe prescribing curriculum, according to AAMC editorial
Safe-opioid prescribing working group details success in AAMC journal Academic Medicine
AP Big Story: UMass Medical School trains students to fight opioid abuse
UMMS implements curriculum changes in current academic year to address opioid crisis
UMMS working with other Mass. medical schools, governor on opioid prescribing practices
UMMS Graduate School of Nursing adopts opioid conscious curriculum