To better prepare pharmacists and other providers to meet the rising demand for services and solutions regarding opioid use disorders and treatment, CPNP recently joined the steering committees of PCSS-O and PCSS-MAT (Provider’s Clinical Support System for Opioid Therapies and Medication Assisted Therapies, respectively).
In 2014, the American Association of Addiction Psychiatry was awarded a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to further develop and expand the PCSS-O and PCSS-MAT programs. In addition to CPNP, partners include the American Medical Association, American Dental Association, American Nursing Association, Association for Medical Education and Research in Substance Abuse, American Society of Addiction Medicine, American Psychiatric Association, American Pain Society and many others.
The PCSS-O and PCSS-MAT programs aim to provide educational training and resources for health professionals on the safe and effective use of opioid medications in the treatment of pain and opioid addiction and to enhance the clinical proficiency of prescribers and providers in treating opioid addiction through medication assisted treatment. In addition, they provide mentoring opportunities to provide guidance, direction and advice to help providers. The most visible of these activities is a series of webinar offerings offered by partners and a web-based platform for consultation and mentor opportunities. In addition, small grants are available to partner organizations to develop trainings and other resources for their own members as well as for the broader PCSS community.
The CPNP Board of Directors has selected Chris Stock, PharmD, BCPP, Investigator at the George E. Wahlen VA Medical Center in Salt Lake City, UT to represent the organization on the PCSS-O and PCSS-MAT steering committees. CPNP members should expect to receive regular information about the resources and opportunities available through PCSS-O and PCSS-MAT and can submit ideas for educational programming or other resource development to info@cpnp.org.
About CPNP
We at CPNP envision a world where every individual with a psychiatric or neurologic disorder has a care team that includes a neuropsychiatric pharmacist accountable for optimal medication therapy. As the voice of the specialty, our mission is to advance the reach and practice of neuropsychiatric pharmacists. The College of Psychiatric and Neurologic Pharmacists (CPNP) is a professional association of over 1600 members who work directly with patients and caregivers to apply specialized clinical knowledge and skills, educate and train healthcare professionals and develop new knowledge in order to improve health outcomes for those individuals with psychiatric and neurologic disorders. Members apply evidence-based, cost-efficient best practices as a member of a treatment team to achieve patient recovery and improved quality of life.