Nova Scotia doctors to talk opioid misuse
Dartmouth, NS – Nova Scotia physicians will meet this weekend, as part of Doctors Nova Scotia’s annual conference, to discuss prescription drug misuse and how physicians can take leadership.
“There’s no denying that physicians, as the main primary care providers for most Nova Scotians, are uniquely positioned to prescribe appropriately, monitor their patients, to identify nonmedical opioid use, and to work toward solutions,” says Dr. David Milne, Doctors Nova Scotia President-Elect. Dr. Milne will be installed as President this weekend at the conference.
The annual conference will feature two sessions – a panel discussion and a case study – related to opioid misuse in Nova Scotia. Dr. Norman Buckley, professor and chair of the Department of Anaestheia, Michael G. DeGroote School of Medicine at McMaster University in Hamilton will open the panel discussion.
Other panelists include Dr. Peter MacDougall, medical consultant with the Nova Scotia Prescription Monitoring Program; Gail Christmas, a person in recovery who will share her story; Dr. Amanda Woodhouse, a Cape Breton family physician who tackled opioid issues in her own practice; Dr. Rhea MacDonald, a Cape Breton family physician who developed a collaborative model to improve opioid prescribing in Inverness; and Carolyn Davison of the Department of Health and Wellness and co-chair of First Do No Harm. The participants will help define the physician’s role in identifying and ameliorating opioid abuse, and share their experience and insights.
After the panel, delegates will delve into a case study on the Inverness Model, which was created by Drs. Rhea MacDonald, Mark Bennett, Monique LaFrance, Susie Egar, N.G. Pillai, Jamie Belen and Raymond Lok. The physicians collaborated with representatives from the local RCMP, the community pharmacy, the local hospital, and other care providers in a collaborative model that has drastically reduced the excessive prescribing of monitored drugs.
"We've implemented a model that is working. Once the right people were on board, it was straightforward, and the results have been tremendously positive," says Dr. Rhea MacDonald. "Our ultimate goal is to see other practitioners in communities across Nova Scotia implement the model, and they too will see the benefits we have, here in Inverness."
The case study will explore the challenges physicians face when prescribing monitored drugs; discuss physician safety and responsibility; share lessons learned; and offer strategies for success.
"Doctors Nova Scotia is proud to support these important discussions and to highlight the positive work happening in Cape Breton that serves as a model for other communities," says Dr. Milne.
Doctors Nova Scotia’s annual conference takes place June 5 and 6 at the Membertou Trade and Convention Centre in Cape Breton.
About Doctors Nova Scotia
Doctors Nova Scotia is the professional association representing all doctors in the province. It is the oldest medical association in Canada. The association represents about 2,500 physicians serving patients across the province, and 700 medical students and residents.