With that in mind , a major question when it comes to training and development becomes how to attain physician buy-in at a time when they feel that their medical judgment is being questioned . The answer , Grizzle says , can be fairly straightforward .
“ Arming compliance professionals with education on the seriousness of the issue , while at the same time offering suggestions for how physicians can continue to treat their patients is the best way to get physician buy-in ,” she explains . “ And it ’ s important for the physicians involved to understand this is not a criticism of past care , but rather a way for them to learn a better approach based on evidence currently available on this evolving medical issue .”
TWO-WAY COMMUNICATION SMOOTHS OVERSIGHT PATH FORWARD
As an offshoot of increased education , providers are increasingly focused on reaching out , through their boards and associations , to governmental agencies and legislative bodies to offer their expertise on pending legislation and current laws . They are making the valid point that the medical community ’ s input is needed so that rules and regulations being crafted have the advantage of a medical-delivery perspective — and so providers can ward off well-meant oversight efforts that could damage the care-delivery system and negatively affect patient outcomes .
RENEWED FOCUS ON TRAINING AND COMPLIANCE
Some of those efforts must be deployed throughout the healthcare continuum as opposed to simply focusing on prescribers . For instance , healthcare workforce education and training around opioid use and abuse is on the rise and is focused on awareness when it comes to signs and symptoms . Those efforts often focus on support staff in emergency rooms as well as the employed and contracted physicians there , as that is where many people with addiction first enter the healthcare system . They include a policy related to prescribing habits and safeguards on prescriptions alongside education around enforcement . Some also include auditing of providers , particularly to identify any outliers who may be overprescribing opioids . These programs are being designed to be customizable , because the regulations related to opioids are constantly changing . Providers must evolve alongside it in order to protect both themselves and their patients .
“ Providers are having conversations with legislators and rule-makers on how best to address the issue ,” Grizzle explains . “ Everyone agrees that steps should be taken to help patients addicted to opioids . The question is how best to address it and provide patients , particularly patients that have chronic pain , with access to the medical care they need to address their symptoms , while at the same time not exacerbating the addiction problems that we ’ re seeing .”