• Describe the fundamental concepts of pain management, including definitions and mechanisms of pain, with consideration of mental health factors
• Recognize how to assess patients in pain, identify risk factors for substance use disorders, and recognize co-occurring mental health conditions and who could benefit from behavioral health services
• Compare and contrast the range of therapeutic options for managing pain, including nonpharmacologic approaches, pharmacologic (non-opioid and opioid analgesics) therapies, and behavioral health interventions
• Integrate opioid analgesics and behavioral health strategies into a comprehensive pain treatment plan individualized to the needs of the patient, evaluating for functional and psychological improvement
• Assess how to safely and effectively manage patients on opioid analgesics in acute and chronic pain settings, including initiating therapy, titrating, and discontinuing use of opioid analgesics, with a focus on discontinuation of opioids incorporating mental health screening and behavioral interventions throughout treatment
• Identify counseling strategies for patients and caregivers about the safe use of opioid analgesics, including proper storage and disposal, while addressing potential mental health impacts and behavioral medicine approaches
• Identify approaches to counsel patients and caregivers about the use of naloxone for opioid overdose, considering the psychological aspects of overdose prevention and response
• Assess when referral to a pain specialist or mental health professional is appropriate within a multidisciplinary approach to pain management
• Summarize the fundamental elements of addiction medicine (ie, diagnosis, prevention, evaluation, treatment, and recovery of patients with opioid use disorder) and its intersection with mental health and behavioral health
• Recall how to identify and manage patients with opioid use disorder (OUD), incorporating behavioral health approaches and addressing co-occurring mental health disorders
• Identify current information about safe opioid practices and current federal and state regulations, national guidelines, professional organization and medical specialty guidelines on treating pain and prescribing opioids
• Describe the use of naloxone and the importance of its availability for use by patients and caregivers in the community and home

The educational activity is directed to family and internal medicine physicians, physician assistants, and nurse practitioners who are registered with the DEA and eligible to prescribe all opioid analgesics, as well as non-prescribers who manage patients receiving opioid analgesic therapy, nonpharmacologic therapies, and nonopioid medication therapies for pain.

ACCREDITATION STATEMENT

In support of improving patient care, Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education 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 health care team.

American Medical Association (AMA)


The Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education designates this enduring material for a maximum of 2.0 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit(s)™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Participants claiming CME credit from this activity may submit the credit hours to the American Osteopathic Association for Category 2 credit.

American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)


Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education designates this enduring activity for a maximum of 2.0 ANCC contact hours.

American Academy of PAs (AAPA)

Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education 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 2.0 AAPA Category 1 CME credit. Approval is valid until 10/31/2026. PAs should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation.

ACTIVITY DIRECTORS
Amy Zack, MD
Vice-Chief of Education, Eastern Submarket
Physician, Family Medicine, Southpointe Medical Center
Assistant Professor
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Assistant Professor
Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine
Cleveland, OH

Robert Bales, MD
Assistant Professor of Family Medicine
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Cleveland, OH

FACULTY
Akhil Anand, MD
Clinical Assistant Professor of Psychiatry
Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine
Cleveland, OH

Pavan Tankha, DO
Medical Director, Center for Comprehensive Pain Recovery
Neurological Institute
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, OH

ADDITIONAL PLANNERS/REVIEWERS
Jessica Benovic, CNP
Center for Adult Behavioral Health
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, OH

Jessica Toland, PA
Internal Medicine
Cleveland Clinic
Cleveland, OH

In accordance with the Standards for Integrity and Independence issued by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education requires resolution of all faculty conflicts of interest to ensure CME activities are free of commercial bias. All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.

The following faculty members have indicated that they may have a relationship which, in the context of their contribution, could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest.

To ensure mitigation of conflicts of interest, content was reviewed by a non-conflicted reviewer to ensure that it is not commercially biased, was fair-balanced, and is based on scientific evidence and/or clinical reasoning.

   Robert Bales, MD
   ROMTech—Private Ownership or Partnership
   * This relationship was reviewed, and the company’s business lines are unrelated to the content of this activity. ACCME exception criteria applies.

   Indivior Inc.—Advisor/Review Panel Participant

All other individuals have indicated no relationship, which in the context of their involvement, could be perceived as a potential conflict of interest.

Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education and The France Foundation staff report no relevant financial relationships to disclose.