Recognizing the critical role health care providers play in curbing the overdose epidemic, the Department of Health has created education and tools to assist providers in navigating the complexities of the overdose epidemic. The Department offers free online and on-site education on topics including safe and effective opioid prescribing, strategies to identify substance use disorder, addressing substance use disorder, and referring patients to treatment. Participants are eligible to receive Continuing Education (CE) and certain modules meet additional Pennsylvania licensing and relicensing requirements.
Online Courses
Educational modules are available as online continuing education courses on TRAIN PA free of charge. You can find them by clicking on the link or searching for "PA-PDMP" in the course catalog, or by clicking the direct links below.
- Module 1: Why Using the Prescription Drug Monitoring Program (PDMP) is Important for Achieving Optimal Health for Pennsylvania Citizens
- Module 2: Effective and Efficient Use of the PDMP
- Module 3: Using the PDMP to Optimize Pain Management
- Module 4: Opioid Prescribing Guide
- Module 5: Referral to Treatment for Substance Use Disorder Related to Opioid Use
- Module 6: Approaches to Addressing Substance Use Disorder with Patients Identified by the PDMP
- Module 7: Effective Opioid Tapering Practices
The following online courses were recently developed to increase education opportunities for dental care providers, care teams, and maternal health providers and care teams.
- NEW! Opioid Prescribing in Dentistry
- NEW! It Takes a Team: Providing Evidence-Based Care to People Living with Opioid Use Disorder
- NEW! Strategies for Improving Maternal and Infant Health Related to Opioid Use
On-Site Educational Sessions
Quality Insights is currently scheduling virtual and onsite education in all Pennsylvania counties through August 2028. Please email PDMPEducation@qualityinsights.org to request more information or to schedule a session. Eligible providers may receive CME credit based on meeting certain criteria.
If you are unable to attend an on-site session, you can take advantage of our online courses on TRAIN PA.
Accreditation
Modules 1-7
These activities have been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) through partnership with the Office of Drug Surveillance and Misuse Prevention, and the University of Pittsburgh. The University of Pittsburgh is accredited by the ACCME to provide continuing medical education for Physicians and Physician Assistants.
The University of Pittsburgh designates each module for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity. The maximum number of hours awarded for this Continuing Nursing Education activity is 1.0 contact hours. Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.
The University of Pittsburgh has been authorized by the American Academy of PAs (AAPA) to award AAPA Category 1 CME credit for activities planned in accordance with AAPA CME Criteria. This activity is designated for 1.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credits. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.
Each module can also be used to satisfy one (respectively) of the required eight training hours on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, as mandated under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 for all Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-registered practitioners.
Opioid Prescribing in Dentistry Module
This activity has been planned and implemented in accordance with the accreditation requirements and policies of of American Dental Association Continuing Education Recognition Program (ADA CERP) through partnership with the Pennsylvania Department of Health, Office of Drug Surveillance and Misuse Prevention and the University of Pittsburgh. The University of Pittsburgh is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider. ADA CERP is a Service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry. The maximum number of hours that may be awarded for this Continuing Education activity is 1.0 contact hours. The University of Pittsburgh School of Dental Medicine, Division of Continuing Education will recognize this properly sponsored program for the maintenance and improvement of professional competence.
This activity can also be used to satisfy one of the required eight training hours on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, as mandated under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 for all Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-registered practitioners.
It Takes a Team: Providing Evidence-Based Care to People Living with Opioid Use Disorder AND Strategies for Improving Maternal and Infant Health Related to Opioid Use Modules
These activities have been planned and implemented by the CAMC Health Education and Research Institute and Quality Insights. CAMC Health Education and Research Institute is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.
Physicians: The CAMC Health Education and Research Institute designates these activities, respectively, for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.
Nurses: The CAMC Institute for Academic Medicine is an approved provider of Continuing Nursing Education by the American Nurses Credentialing Center's Commission on Accreditation. These offerings, respectively, have been approved for 1 contact hour.
CME/CE associated with these activities are also accepted by the Pennsylvania Board of Dentistry and the Pennsylvania Board of Social Workers. Marriage and Family Therapists and Professional Counselors may also claim CME/CE credit.
These activities can also be used to satisfy one (respectively) of the required eight training hours on the treatment and management of patients with opioid or other substance use disorders, as mandated under the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2023 for all Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)-registered practitioners.
Continuing Medical Education (CME) Requirements
All modules 1–7 can be used to meet the Medical and/or Osteopathic Boards' CME credit requirement of Patient Safety/Risk Management, and modules 3–7 can be used to meet the Act 124 of 2016 opioid education requirements. However, a provider cannot use the same module to meet both the Act 124 and Patient Safety/Risk Management requirements. See below for the specific requirements that each module meets:
| Act 124 Pain Management | Act 124 Prescribing Practices for Opioids | Act 124 Identification of Addiction | Patient Safety/Risk Management |
|---|---|---|---|
| Module 3 | Modules 4 and 7 | Modules 5 and 6 | Modules 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 |
Evidence-Based Prescribing: Tools you can use to fight the opioid epidemic.
Download All (PDF)
Module 1: Why Using the PDMP is Important for Achieving Optimal Health for Pennsylvania Citizens
Learn why the use of the PDMP is important to improving Pennsylvania's population health.
- Module 1 Guide Document (PDF)
Module 2: How to Use the PDMP to Make Clinical Decisions
Learn how prescribers and pharmacists can integrate the PDMP into their clinical workflow and use the PDMP to make clinical decisions based on the most recent requirements and regulations.
- Module 2 Guide Document(PDF)
- Reporting Suspected Aberrant Medication Dispensing(PDF)
- Reporting Suspected Aberrant Medication Prescribing(PDF)
- Pharmacist Fact Sheet(PDF)
- Prescriber Fact Sheet(PDF)
Module 3: Using the PDMP to Optimize Pain Management
Learn how prescribers and pharmacists can use the PDMP to optimize a patient's pain management
- Module 3 Guide Document(PDF)
- Diagram: Multimodal Pain Management Methods(PDF)
- Module 3 Pocket Cards(PDF)
Module 4: Opioid Prescribing Guide
Overview of opioid prescribing guidelines published by the Pennsylvania Department of Health for acute and chronic pain management in healthcare settings as well as information published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention for chronic and acute pain management in all medical practices.
- Module 4 Guide Document(PDF)
- Opioid Prescribing Guidelines for Chronic Pain Checklist(PDF)
- Fact Sheet: Summary of Opioid Prescribing Guidelines for Noncancer Chronic Pain(PDF)
- Commonwealth of Pennsylvania Laws Surrounding Controlled Substances(PDF)
- Pocket Card: Quick Guide to Pennsylvania's Comprehensive Opioid Laws(PDF)
- Pocket Card: Opioid Prescribing Guidelines for Chronic Pain(PDF)
Module 5: Referral to Treatment for Substance Use Disorder Related to Opioid Use
Learn how to determine whether a patient should be referred to substance use disorder treatment and how to conduct a "warm handoff" of that patient to specialty treatment.
- Module 5 Guide Document(PDF)
- Flow Chart: Primary Care "Warm Handoff" For Substance Use Disorder(PDF)
Module 6: Approaches to Addressing Substance Use Disorder with Patients Identified by the PDMP
Learn how to incorporate Screening, Brief Intervention and Referral to Treatment (SBIRT) into clinical practice.
- Module 6 Guide Document(PDF)
- Key Components of Motivational Interviewing(PDF)
- Pocket Card: Steps of the Brief Negotiated Interview(PDF)
- Frequently Asked Questions: SBIRT Training and Implementation(PDF)
- SBIRT Primer(PDF)
- SBIRT Online Directory(PDF)
- SBIRT Demonstration Videos(PDF)
Module 7: Effective Opioid Tapering Practices
Overview of different opioid tapering strategies for prescribers who need to either taper a patient to a lower daily dosage or to discontinuation of opioid therapy.
- Module 7 Guide Document(PDF)
- Flow Chart: Opioid Tapering(PDF)
- Pocket Card: How to Taper Opioids(PDF)
Conflict of Interest Policy
No planners, members of the planning committee, content reviewers and/or anyone else in a position to control the content of this education activity have relevant financial relationships to disclose.
The Americans with Disabilities Act information
Participation by all individuals is encouraged. Advance notification of any special needs will help us provide better service. Please notify us of your needs at least two weeks in advance of the program by sending an email to ra-dh-pdmpedu@pa.gov.
If you have any questions about this education initiative, please contact ra-dh-pdmpedu@pa.gov.
Pennsylvania Substance Use Navigation Program (PA-SUN) Education
To aid Emergency Departments (ED) in increasing knowledge on topics such as harm reduction, buprenorphine initiation, linkage to care, and stigma, the Department's PA-SUN program created (no-cost) online educational modules for ED providers. Learn more about PA-SUN.