Pain, Palliative Care and Addiction SIG

APhA Engage

Pain, Palliative Care and Addiction SIG Community

Mission of the SIG

The mission of the APhA Pain, Palliative Care and Addiction Special Interest Group (SIG) is to support pharmacists and student pharmacist interns who care for individuals with all types of acute and chronic pain and for patients with life limiting illnesses who have pain and other symptoms. The APhA Pain, Palliative Care, and Addiction SIG also focuses on associated issues such as addictions, medication abuse, and medication diversion.

Purpose of the SIG

The purpose of the APhA Pain, Palliative Care and Addiction SIG is to educate, collaborate with, and support pharmacists and student pharmacist interns by empowering them to provide medication therapy management for all patients with both acute and chronic pain including, but not limited to, patients who are terminally ill.  Because addiction, diversion, and abuse is prevalent in individuals who are using opioids and other prescribed and illicit drugs, and/or alcohol, education and support for pharmacists and student pharmacist interns dealing with these concerns are addressed in this SIG.

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APhA-APPM Pain, Palliative Care and Addiction SIG Leaders

SIG Leaders

2020-21 SIG Committee Leaders

  • Education Committee Co-Chairs: Michael McQuade & Daniel Ventricelli
  • Resources Committee Co-Chairs: Michael Villabos & Jef Bratburg
  • Pharmacists Recovery Network Chair: Lindsay Wall
  • Policy & Professional Affairs Committee Co-Chairs: Anthony Vertino & Jef Bratburg
APhA-APPM Pain, Palliative Care and Addiction SIG Committees

Education Committee 
Purpose: To keep the SIG members informed about programs and policies at their schools of pharmacy that involve pain, palliative care, and addiction.

2020-21 Charges:

  • Suggest and/or implement one webinar and one topic for APhA2021 Annual Meeting and/or Pain Institute and APhA Institute (formerly Utah School).
  • Advertise APhA2021 programming via Engage/social media. 
  • Continue conversation about APhA2021 Annual Meeting/Pain Institute/APhA Institute programming on social media.
  • Work collaboratively with APhA-APRS to prepare educational handouts and/or webinar/conference presentations.  

Resources Committee
Purpose: To keep SIG members informed about updates and educational opportunities that involve pain and palliative care.

2020-21 Charges:

  • Work with APhA to regularly (monthly) add important papers, guidelines, etc. to Opioid Resource Center (ORC) regarding Pain, Palliative Care, and Addiction. 
  • Advertise new and existing resources available via Engage at Opioid Resource Center, prescribetoprevent.org, and other state agencies/associations, such as prevent-protect.org and preventoverdoseri.org. 
  • Create a podcast to inform SIG and APhA members about current topics related to pain management and substance use disorder.

Pharmacists Recovery Network
Purpose: To keep SIG members informed about updates and education opportunities that involve addiction.

2020-21 Charges:

  • Work with researchers to determine how many state PRN programs provide and/or permit evidence-based treatment.
  • Share and discuss with SIG members via Engage. 

    Policy & Professional Affairs Committee
    Purpose: To keep SIG members informed about new and existing APhA policy that has an impact on pain, palliative care, and addiction. It will also take lead within the SIG when changes or new policy needs to be addressed within the APhA House of Delegates.

    2020-21 Charges:

    • Create a list of existing APhA Policies that most influence the work of SIG members, positively or negatively, and share with SIG. 
    • Suggest policy topics for 2021 and share with SIG via ENGAGE.
    • Suggest, draft, and write one New Business Item for policies not adopted in 2020. 

    Communications Committee
    2020-21 Charges:

    • Facilitate ENGAGE discussions.
    • Start a discussion on ENGAGE 2 times each month.
    • Work with the Education Committee to post patient cases once per month for discussion. 

    Palliative Care Committee
    2020-21 Charges:

    • Share knowledge with the SIG regarding palliative care.  
    • Work with the Resources Committee to conduct a podcast regarding palliative care.
    • Work with the Education Committee to create a handout, webinar, or presentation regarding palliative care.
    Call for Committee Leaders and Members

    The call for committee leaders and members has ended. Please contact the Coordinator if you are interested in volunteering your time. 

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