PRACTICE MANAGEMENT By Peter Graber NCAFP Communications Services
MAHEC Plays Leading Role in New AAFP Field Manual on Opioid Use Disorder In late February, the AAFP formally published its first field manual on treating Opioid Use Disorder (OUD). Release of the manual was a culmination of several years of work that featured faculty from North Carolina’s Mountain Area Health Education Center program (MAHEC) playing a lead role. “This manual we hope will provide basic information and access to further reading and resources to increase physician comfort level in treating this disease,” explained Dr. Susan McDowell, a faculty physician and substance use educator with MAHEC’s Family Medicine Residency Program in Asheville. McDowell spends half her time in patient care and the other half in education and community outreach around substance use disorders, primarily OUD, and acted as the designated lead author of the manual. The manual’s release comes
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at a key time in the fight to reduce opioid abuse-related deaths. According to provisional data released late last year by the CDC, the total number of US drug overdose deaths increased 18.2% between June 2019 and May 2020, with the largest increase occurring at the start of the nation’s pandemic response from March 2020 to May 2020. Broadly, the manual is the first contemporary field guide designed to orient family physicians on treating OUD within their patient populations. The guide provides an overview of current best practices, reviews diagnostic criteria, and offers a convenient outline of the processes physicians and practices can use to implement OUD services. An excellent listing of resources is also provided for additional study.
MAHEC’s involvement originated from AFFP’s solicitation as they conceptualized the effort. MAHEC has built a national reputation as a leading expert in OUD clinical treatment, with faculty members presenting several didactic sessions at AAFP conferences, as well as presenting medicaTreating Opioid Use Disorder tion-assisted trainings as a Chronic Condition across North Carolina. They also provide techA Practice Manual for Family Physicians nical assistance to physicians, health agencies and community health centers. According to McDowell, MAHEC has trained more than 3,000 healthcare providers across the state over the last two years and more than 19,000 participants in its continuing education programs. This manual was developed and distributed using funds from an unrestricted grant through Indivior.
During development of the manual, McDowSee 'OUD' on back cover
The North Carolina Family Physician
