Treating pain effectively requires more than a technical understanding of a patient’s physical experience; the psychological impact of pain is just as important. The France Foundation (TFF), in collaboration with the Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education, is leading a new educational initiative aimed at shifting the chronic pain narrative towards one that reflects what clinicians and patients have long known: meaningful pain management strategies start with a holistic approach to the patient.

“Mental Health and Behavioral Medicine Interventions in Opioid-Sparing Chronic Pain Treatment” is a comprehensive program designed to help clinicians manage chronic pain using more integrated, psychologically informed, and opioid-sparing strategies without compromising patient care. It’s also the second time we’ve collaborated with the Cleveland Clinic Center for Continuing Education on a program for the Risk Evaluation and Mitigation Strategies (REMS) program for opioids, which is a set of requirements mandated by the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to reduce the risks of addiction, misuse, abuse, overdose, and death associated with opioid analgesics, particularly extended-release and long-acting (ER/LA) formulations.

Chronic pain and mental health are deeply interconnected, but clinician use of behavioral strategies–including multimodal approaches like cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) or acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT)–remains strikingly low. Only 3.8% of adults with chronic pain report using psychological therapies, compared to 15.2% using opioids. 

Built to the Blueprint: Meeting REMS Education Standards and Clinician Needs 

This initiative is fully aligned with the FDA Opioid Analgesic REMS Blueprint, with additional emphasis on mental health and behavioral strategies. It gives clinicians the tools and training to change their mindset and safely reduce opioid reliance, delivering more compassionate care whether they prescribe opioids or simply help patients navigate them.

It also features a Project Extension for Community Healthcare Outcomes (ECHO) virtual learning series, and an on-demand activity for self-paced learning:

1. Project ECHO Virtual Learning Series 
Twelve live, case-based virtual sessions, hosted across three national “hub” regions, bring together expert faculty and clinicians for interactive sessions focused on:

• The biopsychosocial model of pain
• Building pain treatment plans with behavioral interventions
• Opioid management with a focus on mental health
• Treating opioid use disorder with integrated behavioral care

Each session includes structured follow-up via action plans and long-term outcome tracking.

2. On-Demand Activity for Self-Paced Learning
Four video-based modules mirroring the live content are designed within a personalized learning environment to promote deep reflection, spaced repetition, and long-term knowledge retention. Behavioral nudges and confidence-based assessment help learners absorb, retain, and apply content to improve clinical readiness. Click Here to Begin >>

With TFF leading program design and implementation and Cleveland Clinic serving as the accredited CE provider and academic collaborator, this initiative reflects the best of what collaboration in continuing education can look like. Thanks to the support of REMS Program Companies (RPC), we’re expanding our reach and raising the standard for pain education across the health care system.

The future of pain education is interprofessional and digitally accessible. If your organization is interested in initiatives that help reduce opioid reliance, improve mental health integration, or bring equity and depth to pain management, feel free to get in touch with us using the form below.