The Health Federation of Philadelphia shared resources, including ways to address overdose risk and training resources, as well as upcoming meeting information:
“The holidays tend to be a difficult time for many and this year will be an even more isolated or fraught time for many of us, including our patients. So this week’s communication to you will offer resources to help in addition to information about upcoming meetings and trainings that might interest you. Please share.
Addressing overdose risk:
- Recent fatal overdoses associated with fentanyl-contaminated pressed pills that look identical to pharmaceutical brands and cocaine have been reported. Educating patients about risks of fentanyl contamination continues to be very important.
- Isolation can increase the risk of dying from an overdose. For patients who use alone, they can go to https://neverusealone.com/ so that someone can be on the line with them and contact emergency personnel, if needed.
- Co-prescribing Narcan increases the likelihood that someone receives it.
- For patients who are unwilling or unable to receive services onsite, Narcan can be delivered to the home at no charge through this site (Philadelphia residents only): https://nextdistro.org/phillytypechoice. We’ve heard reports that some people received a formulation that did not match their expectations – be sure to emphasize that people complete the training for the formulation that they expect to receive.
Philadelphia County Act 33 Safe Medicine Storage Campaign was recently launched by DHS, DBHIDS, and PDPH in response to an increase in child drug ingestion related deaths and near deaths in 2020. A tip sheet and flyer are available below – please share this information with your patients:
Keep medicines, paraphernalia, and other hazardous materials up and away:
If at all possible, keep them in cabinets that can be locked or child-proofed with latches. If locks are not easily available, make sure they are placed inside cabinets and drawers and not out in the open. And be sure to put medicines away after using them.
Talk with your children:
Have these conversations with children about medicines and drugs. Understanding how something can be harmful will help kids stay safe.
Encourage others to help keep your home safe: When babysitters, extended family, and friends come over, ask that they keep any medicines they may have safely stored in bags or are not brought into the home.
Below please find the campaign’s flyer and tip sheet to share with others.
Safe-Medicine-Storage-Tip-Sheet (1)
Our Next MOUD Provider Collaborative meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, December 8 from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. Please rsvp to Caroline Drob, [email protected] or Catherine Abrams, [email protected]. Here is the link:
Join from PC, Mac, Linux, iOS or Android: https://meetings.ringcentral.com/j/1499791140?pwd=N1dmQkw4ekdJaTk2UHVrRWptdXRTQT09
Password: 018993
Agenda:
Introductions
Discuss the newly introduced weekly buprenorphine formulation (avail Dec 1)
Open Discussion – submit case ideas ahead of time to Catherine or Caroline
Overdose Prevention
Training resources:
December 4, 2020 at 1:00 pm – “Balancing Testing, On-Site Visits, and Telehealth for Challenging Patients During COVID-19” cases look like things this group has discussed before! Register Now
HIV Medical Management program. There are limited spots available for this excellent training on December 7.8, and 11th (clinical day). This course is virtual, has no fee and has both nursing and CME credits. If you know of anyone interested in the course please pass on the registration link https://www.maaetc.org/events/view/16097 and the brochure available below. contact Susan Thompson with any questions – cell 267-847-6396
Hrsa approved MAAETC brochure_HIV_MM_preceptorships_2021-edited IG (1)
MOUD Preceptor Training – registration is open for Thursday, January 14, 2020 from 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. Clinical days are scheduled separately and will be online until we can offer them onsite again. To register, please consult our website at: https://healthfederation.org/training/opioid-epidemic-response-training
We are grateful for the work that you do with your patients every day and we hope that the serious tone of this email does not diminish our sincere wishes that you have a safe and happy Thanksgiving.
We look forward to virtually seeing you soon.
Sincerely,
Catherine Abrams, MPH, MMT
Opioid Response Program Coordinator
Health Federation of Philadelphia
[email protected]
215-246-5588″
