Mercy Health Opioid Summit Spring 2025

Opioid Use Disorder, Safe Prescribing, Pain Management & Harm Reduction Update

Overview

The Mercy Health Opioid Summit Spring 2025 is a focused educational program addressing one of the most significant public health challenges facing healthcare systems today: the opioid epidemic. This evidence-based conference provides clinicians with practical strategies for the prevention, identification, and management of opioid use disorder (OUD), while balancing effective pain management and patient safety.

Held on February 15, 2025, the summit explores contemporary approaches to opioid stewardship, medication-assisted treatment, overdose prevention, chronic pain management, and harm reduction initiatives. Faculty members review real-world clinical challenges encountered in emergency medicine, primary care, addiction medicine, and pain management settings.

The curriculum emphasizes actionable protocols that clinicians can immediately apply to improve outcomes for patients affected by opioid misuse, dependence, addiction, and chronic pain conditions.

Course Features

• Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) Education
• Safe Opioid Prescribing Updates
• Harm Reduction Strategies
• Chronic Pain Management Review
• Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)
• Overdose Prevention Education
• Multimodal Pain Management
• Non-Opioid Treatment Strategies
• Emergency Medicine Applications
• Primary Care Focused Content
• Evidence-Based Clinical Protocols
• Case-Based Learning

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this activity, participants will be able to:

• Identify and assess patients with opioid use disorder.
• Implement evidence-based overdose prevention strategies.
• Apply harm reduction principles in clinical practice.
• Develop comprehensive treatment plans for acute and chronic pain.
• Utilize non-opioid therapies as part of multimodal pain management.
• Evaluate the risks and benefits of chronic opioid therapy.
• Improve patient safety while maintaining adequate pain control.
• Integrate addiction treatment strategies into routine patient care.

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)

Recognition & Diagnosis

A central focus of the summit is the early identification of opioid use disorder.

Topics Include

• Diagnostic criteria for OUD
• Risk assessment
• Screening tools
• Clinical evaluation
• Substance use history assessment

Faculty review practical approaches for recognizing opioid-related disorders in both outpatient and emergency settings.

Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD)

The course highlights current evidence supporting treatment of opioid addiction.

Covered Areas

• Buprenorphine treatment
• Methadone therapy
• Naltrexone utilization
• Treatment initiation strategies
• Long-term recovery support

Participants review best practices for integrating addiction treatment into clinical workflows.

Harm Reduction & Overdose Prevention

Harm Reduction Strategies

Modern opioid management increasingly incorporates harm reduction principles.

Topics Include

• Naloxone distribution
• Overdose prevention counseling
• Risk reduction education
• Safer medication practices
• Community intervention programs

Faculty discuss practical measures that reduce morbidity and mortality associated with opioid use.

Opioid Overdose Prevention

Dedicated sessions review:

Topics Include

• Overdose risk factors
• Recognition of overdose
• Emergency response protocols
• Naloxone administration
• Post-overdose care

Participants learn strategies for preventing fatal opioid-related events.

Pain Management

Acute Pain Management

The conference reviews evidence-based approaches to acute pain treatment.

Topics Include

• Emergency department pain management
• Post-procedural pain
• Trauma-related pain
• Non-opioid alternatives
• Individualized treatment planning

Faculty emphasize balancing pain relief with responsible prescribing.

Chronic Pain Management

Specialized lectures focus on long-term pain treatment.

Covered Topics

• Chronic opioid therapy
• Risk-benefit assessment
• Functional outcome monitoring
• Treatment agreements
• Opioid tapering strategies

Participants learn approaches that improve patient outcomes while minimizing risk.

Multimodal Pain Management

Non-Opioid Therapies

A major theme of the summit is reducing reliance on opioids when appropriate.

Topics Include

• NSAIDs
• Acetaminophen
• Neuropathic pain medications
• Adjuvant therapies
• Behavioral interventions

Faculty review evidence supporting non-opioid treatment strategies.

Interventional Pain Management

Sessions discuss:

Covered Areas

• Injection therapies
• Nerve blocks
• Procedural interventions
• Multidisciplinary pain management
• Referral considerations

These approaches are reviewed as part of comprehensive pain treatment plans.

Alternative Pain Modalities

The conference explores complementary approaches to pain management.

Topics Include

• Physical therapy
• Exercise-based rehabilitation
• Cognitive behavioral therapy
• Integrative medicine approaches
• Functional restoration programs

Participants learn how these modalities can support long-term pain control.

Safe Opioid Prescribing

Opioid Stewardship

The course emphasizes responsible prescribing practices.

Topics Include

• Prescribing guidelines
• Risk mitigation strategies
• Prescription monitoring programs
• Patient education
• Documentation requirements

Faculty discuss practical strategies to reduce opioid-related harms.

Balancing Safety & Quality of Life

One of the key challenges explored is balancing:

• Effective pain control
• Patient safety
• Functional improvement
• Addiction risk
• Provider responsibilities

These discussions address the complexities clinicians face in everyday practice.

Emergency Medicine Applications

The summit includes practical content relevant to emergency physicians.

Topics Include

• Acute opioid withdrawal
• Overdose management
• Buprenorphine initiation
• High-risk patient identification
• Emergency department protocols

Participants review strategies for improving outcomes during acute care encounters.

Primary Care Applications

Primary care providers receive guidance on:

Covered Topics

• Longitudinal management of chronic pain
• Opioid monitoring
• Substance use screening
• Addiction treatment referral
• Continuity of care

The curriculum supports integration of addiction medicine principles into routine practice.

Educational Highlights

✔ Evidence-based opioid prescribing updates

✔ Comprehensive opioid use disorder review

✔ Harm reduction strategies

✔ Overdose prevention protocols

✔ Chronic pain management education

✔ Non-opioid treatment approaches

✔ MOUD implementation guidance

✔ Emergency medicine applications

✔ Primary care focused content

✔ Practical clinical protocols

Target Audience

This course is ideal for:

• Emergency Medicine Physicians
• Family Medicine Physicians
• Internal Medicine Physicians
• Primary Care Providers
• Hospitalists
• Addiction Medicine Specialists
• Nurse Practitioners
• Physician Assistants
• Pain Management Clinicians
• Healthcare Professionals Managing Chronic Pain

Why This Course Stands Out

✔ Focused opioid epidemic education

✔ Practical, evidence-based approach

✔ Strong emphasis on patient safety

✔ Comprehensive addiction management strategies

✔ Harm reduction and overdose prevention focus

✔ Balances pain management with risk reduction

✔ Relevant for both emergency and outpatient settings

✔ Covers modern opioid stewardship practices

✔ Applicable to daily clinical practice

✔ Supports improved patient outcomes

4. Topics

*Note: these are continuous video recordings during the conference, they include individual lectures mentioned in the Detail section below

• Part 1.mp4
• Part 2.mp4

* Detail:

• 10:20 AM – 11:00 AM Initiating Medication-Assisted Treatment Mahjabeen Islam, MD, FAAFP, FASAM
• 11:00 AM – 11:40 PM Alternative Pain Management Options/Holistic Approaches to Pain Management Jennifer Pfleghaar, DO
• 8:40 AM – 9:20 AM Perioperative Suboxone Management Miguel Morillo, MD
• 9:20 am – 10:00 am Harm Reduction Resources Mahjida Berryman – Lucas County Department of Health