The misuse of prescription painkillers (opioids) is a significant public health problem. More than 15,000 Americans died from prescription opioids in 2009, and emergency department visits involving prescription pain relief misuse increased more than 150% between 2004 and 2010. CHCF hosted three webinars to highlight new approaches to this problem.

Recordings and presentation slides for each are available below.

1. Creating a Culture of Safe Prescribing in Clinics (Held April 1)

An urban clinic for the homeless and a rural community clinic discuss their approaches to changing culture among staff and improving systems of care. Hear from:

• Nurit Licht, MD, chief medical officer, Petaluma Health Center
• Rachel Solotaroff, MD, MCR, chief medical officer, Central City Concern

2. How Plans Can Support Safe Prescribing (Held May 20)

Two health plans discuss how to reduce opioid overprescribing and create safer communities by partnering with hospitals, clinics, community physicians, health departments, and law enforcement. Hear from:

• Robert Moore, MD, MPH, chief medical officer, Partnership HealthPlan of California
• Amit Shah, MD, senior medical director, Care Oregon

3. Teaching Safe Prescribing to Primary Care Residents (Held June 4)

Two urban primary care clinics with residency programs review their approaches to training residents in more effective ways to manage opioid use. Hear from:

• Soraya Azari, MD, assistant professor of medicine, QI lead for chronic pain management, UCSF School of Medicine
• Diana Coffa, MD, residency director, UCSF/SFGH Family Medicine Residency Program