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Letter to the Physician

Letter to the Physician

Dear Doctor:

Thank you for inquiring about AMA/PRA Category 1 CME through the Ethical and Regulatory Aspects of Managing Patients With Pain course offered by the Committee on Physician Health and Rehabilitation.  This material was planned and produced in accordance with ACCME Essentials.  The written course requires approximately one hour for study of material and completion of the CME activity evaluation.

Target Audience: physicians of all specialties.

Objectives: Upon completion of this course, physicians should be able to:

1) Recognize that pain is a complex clinical issue and that undertreatment and overtreatment of pain are significant problems.
2) Discuss ethical dilemmas physicians face when adequately treating pain patients while minimizing risk of diversion.
3) Identify the difference between addiction and physiological dependence.
4) List comprehensive, ethical, appropriate pain management strategies.
5) Discuss how pain medication that is proportionate to the need of patients with serious pain can undercut their powers to participate in their own health care.
6) Analyze paradigm shifts in evidence-based clinical practice and regulations to improve patient outcomes.
7) Implement appropriate documentation for managing chronic pain.

Program Content: This educational program presents materials developed by the TMA Committee on Physician Health and Rehabilitation.  The material is designed for use at hospital medical staff and hospital leadership meetings.  It is appropriate for continuing education of physicians and others interested in learning about ethical and regulatory aspects of managing patients with pain.

Accreditation: The Texas Medical Association is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.

The TMA designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit™. Physicians should only claim credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Ethics and/or Professional Responsibility Education: Texas Medical Association has designated this activity for 1 hour of ethics and/or professional responsibility education.

Instructions to obtain Category 1 CME credit for this activity:

1. Read and study the module.
2. Complete the provided self-assessment.
3. Complete the provided TMA identification return page.  
4. Complete the provided CME activity evaluation.
5. Return the (a) TMA identification return page, (b) CME activity evaluation, and (c) administration fee ($15 member; $20 non-member) to the TMA Knowledge Center, 401 West 15th Street, Austin, TX 78701-1680 or via fax to (512) 370-1693.
6. Your CME credit will be processed and a transcript mailed to you approximately two weeks from the date of receipt.  Click here to print out your CME transcript 24/7!
7. Questions regarding the course should be directed to the TMA Committee on Physician Health and Rehabilitation, Attn: Linda Kuhn, 401 West 15th Street, Austin, TX  78701-1680, (512) 370-1342, Linda Kuhn.

For CME documentation purposes, the date of completion of this activity will be the date the completed CME documentation is received by TMA.

The PHR committee hopes this course is useful educational information and welcomes your suggestions regarding these or other educational materials you think should be made available to Texas physicians.

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Last Published: 6/9/2009