Education the preferred outcome in opioid prescribing investigations
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When the College investigates a physician , any one of a number of outcomes is possible . But the results of our recent investigations into potentially concerning opioid prescribing practices makes it apparent that the College ’ s preferred choice of action is to support education , where possible . At its February meeting , Council received a report that summarized the outcomes in the investigations of 81 of the 84 physicians who had been investigated by the College after it received information from the Narcotics Monitoring System ( NMS ) about potentially inappropriate opioid prescribing . Of the 84 doctors investigated , the College took no action with 22 , provided advice to six and prescribed self-study for two . Forty-four physicians with identified learning needs will participate in education and practise under the guidance of a clinical supervisor , who will oversee completion of the educational plan . In time , physicians will be reassessed to gauge improvement . Three physicians now have prescribing restrictions , three are no longer practising , and one doctor will face a disciplinary hearing . Three investigations are in progress .
“ These outcomes demonstrate that the College will choose a remedial approach in clinical investigations , whenever possible , to help physicians practise to current standards ,” said Dr . Steven Bodley , College President . “ Our goal is to keep the physician in practice and to support education and provide guidance , where the physician ’ s capacity for remediation is apparent ,” he said . Dr . Bodley said it is critical that members of the profession have a clear understanding of the decisions the College has made in these cases and how they line up with our objectives in the opioid strategy . “ We want to facilitate safe and appropriate prescribing , protect patient access to care and reduce risk to both patients and the public . As we have said many times , prescribing opioids under the right circumstances is critical for
ISSUE 1 , 2018 DIALOGUE 19