The Journal of the Arkansas Medical Society Issue 5 Volume 115 | Page 7

them. They can even email us ahead of time at [email protected] with a case to discuss – especially if they have a specific date they want to bring the case.” Formatted for Meaningful Participation “AR-IMPACT is different from typical online CME,” said Hayes of a format that encourages discussion and problem solving associated with physicians’ ongoing cases. Interactivity and convenience are two main keys to the program’s value, shared Dr. Ray-Griffith. “It’s interactive, highly relevant to you and the pa- tients you’re trying to treat, and you can participate, if you like, from your office during lunch or between patient loads,” she said. “We know physicians are busy. They can sit and eat while listening, and soon, they will be able to go online at a later time to watch archived seminars.” “The majority of physicians have never had a lecture on improving pain management,” said Dr. Smith. “If you’re worried about your opioid pre- scribing, AR-IMPACT is a way to help yourself. If you wanted to, you could get all your continuing education for an entire year from it in 20 sessions.” Medical Board Legal Issues? Call Pharmacist/Attorney Darren O’Quinn 1-800-455-0581 Participation is growing, and currently stands now at between 20-30 attendees each week. “We have issued 280 CE credits since starting in May,” Hayes added. “Currently, they are not avail- able, but we are in the process of working with UAMS Learn on Demand to make past conferenc- es available online for viewing and free CE credit.” Filling a Gap AR-IMPACT is about more than CE credits, as Smith and AR-IMPACT team members have indicated. It’s about giving physicians needed resources to deal with this evolving problem. Hayes shared with us the feedback of one par- ticipant (anonymous), who praised the panel-to- participant discussions and said, “I applaud your acknowledgement that we in primary care have a difficult task in managing these patients.” Dr. Ray-Griffith identified with the participant. “I’m a psychiatrist. I’ve seen addiction and treated people with addiction, but when this became an issue nationally, even I was amazed at the sever- ity of the problem. I think everyone at some point has been surprised. And the problem in Arkansas is evolving. For example, if you would have asked me two years ago about heroin, I would have said ‘We don’t have heroin in the state of Arkansas,’ and in fact, in training, I never saw a patient who had used heroin. Now, almost every patient I see for opioid use disorder is primarily using heroin or has used heroin. “Health care providers are trying their best for patients. Opioids were initially thought as helpful; however, we are now realizing the dan- gers of chronic opioids.” One problem, said Dr. Ray-Griffith, has been a lack of evidence to support other modalities. “That’s what we’re trying to get out there with programs like AR-IMPACT,” she stressed, dem- onstrating the change in approach. “… Here’s what the evidence says. Here’s what you need to know about other ways to treat chronic pain. AR-IMPACT is here to help you taper opioids, find alternatives approaches, recognize an opioid use disorder, explore who is the right patient to be on chronic opiates as well as address any co-occur- ring depression and anxiety.” As we have and will continue to report, physi- cians and other stakeholders (researchers, legis- lators, others) are hard at work to confront this > Continued on page 104. Fly Smarter. Fly Charter. k a e r B g n i r Sp is just around the bend Hassle Free Travel Land Closer to Your Destination Travel on Your Schedule www.DarrenOQuinn.com ® in the Continental US, Carribean, Mexico or Canada Contact Charter Today 975.9329 / [email protected] Since 1939 View All of Our Charter Aircraft at central.aero/charter Little Rock, Arkansas 2 3 0 1 C r i s p D r i v e | L i t t l e R o c k | A r k a n s a s | 7 2 2 0 2 NUMBER 5 | c e n t r a l . a e r o NOVEMBER 2018 • 103