Optimizing Safe Opioid Prescribing: A REMS-Compliant Approach to Pain Management
Tuesday, January 13, 2026
3:30 PM – 5:00 PM PT
4:30 PM – 6:00 PM MT
5:30 PM – 7:00 PM CT
6:30 PM – 8:00 PM ET
Program Overview
This REMS-compliant program is designed to enhance clinician confidence and competence in the safe and effective management of pain. Through evidence-based instruction and expert-led discussion, participants will gain practical strategies for conducting comprehensive pain assessments, developing guideline-driven treatment plans, and integrating nonpharmacologic and non-opioid pharmacologic therapies into patient care. The curriculum also addresses best practices in opioid prescribing and patient counseling, appropriate specialist referrals, and current protocols for recognizing and managing opioid use disorder.
Target Audience
Consistent with the goals of the FDA REMS blueprint, this REMS-compliant continuing education program is designed to meet the educational needs of a broad range of health care professionals, nationally, including medication prescribers and care team members; physicians (including primary care, internal medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, pain medicine, addiction medicine), advanced practice nurses (e.g., APRN, CNS, NP, DNP, CRNA, CNMW, other), physician assistants, dentists, podiatrists, nurses, pharmacists, optometrists, and psychologists.
Learning Objectives
Upon the completion of this program, attendees should be able to:
- Articulate the foundational elements of pain management, distinguishing between definitions, classifications, and mechanisms of pain.
- Conduct comprehensive pain assessments that evaluate pain severity and identify patient-specific risk factors for nonmedical opioid use and opioid use disorder.
- Apply effective strategies for managing acute and chronic pain that prioritize the use of nonpharmacologic and non-opioid pharmacologic modalities.
- Develop guideline-driven strategies for initiating, titrating, and discontinuing opioid analgesics, while emphasizing individualized treatment plans, secure storage protocols, and counseling approaches for patients and caregivers concerning naloxone use during opioid overdose.
- Recognize clinical indicators for specialist referral and facilitate timely consultations with pain management and addiction medicine.
- Outline the core principles of addiction medicine and apply evidence-based strategies for recognizing and managing opioid use disorder.
Joint Accreditation Statement
Physician Credit Designation Statement
Med Learning Group designates this live activity for a maximum of 1.5 AMA PRA Category 1 CreditsTM. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the live activity.
Nurses (ANCC) Credit Designation
Med Learning Group designates this activity for a maximum of 1.5 ANCC contact hours.
Pharmacists and Pharmacy Technicians (ACPE) Credit Designation
Med Learning Group designates this activity for a maximum of up to 1.5 knowledge-based CPE contact hours.
NOTE to Pharmacists: The only official Statement of Credit is the one you pull from CPE Monitor. You must request your certificate within 45 days of your participation in the activity to meet the deadline for submission to CPE Monitor. Credits are generally reported during the first week of each month for those who claimed during the month prior.
AAPA Credit Designation Statement – Enduring Materials
Disclosure Policy Statement
In accordance with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) Standards for Integrity and Independence in Accredited Continuing Education, educational programs sponsored by Med Learning Group must demonstrate balance, independence, objectivity, and scientific rigor. All faculty, authors, editors, staff, and planning committee members participating in an MLG-sponsored activity are required to disclose any relevant financial interest or other relationship with the manufacturer(s) of any commercial product(s) and/or provider(s) of commercial services that are discussed in an educational activity.
Disclosure of Relevant Financial Relationships
| Faculty Member | Disclosures |
|---|---|
| Sudheer Potru, DO, FASAM | Advisor, PatchRx |
| Michael D. Cheshire, DO, FACOI, FACP, FNLA | No financial relationships to disclose |
| James Q. Zhou, MD | No financial relationships to disclose |
All relevant financial relationships have been mitigated.
Content Review
The content of this activity was independently peer reviewed by a physician and nurse reviewer.
Individuals in Control of the Content of the Activity
The individuals in control of the content of this activity have reported the following financial relationships or relationships to products or devices they have with ineligible companies related to the content of this CE activity:
Matthew Frese, MBA, General Manager of Med Learning Group, has nothing to disclose.
Shannon Mutch MS, RN, OCN, has nothing to disclose.
M. Susan Burke, MD, has nothing to disclose.
A medical reviewer from CME Peer Review LLC, has nothing to disclose.
Lauren Scott, Medical Director for Med Learning Group, has nothing to disclose.
Lauren Welch, MA, VP, Accreditation and Outcomes for Med Learning Group, has nothing to disclose.
Melissa Johnson, Program Director for Med Learning Group, has nothing to disclose.
Millena Papastavrou, Associate Program Manager, has nothing to disclose.
Brianna Hanson, Accreditation and Outcomes Coordinator, has nothing to disclose.
Disclosure Of Unlabeled Use
Med Learning Group requires that faculty participating in any CE activity disclose to the audience when discussing any unlabeled or investigational use of any commercial product or device not yet approved for use in the United States.
During this lecture, the faculty may mention the use of medications for both FDA-approved and non-approved indications.
Method of Participation
There are no fees for participating and receiving CE credit for this activity.
In order to obtain your certificate for the mentioned accreditation, participants need to successfully complete the associated pre/post activities and evaluation.
Your certificate will be provided as a downloadable file.
Disclaimer
Med Learning Group makes every effort to develop CE activities that are science based. This activity is designed for educational purposes. Participants have a responsibility to use this information to enhance their professional development in an effort to improve patient outcomes. Conclusions drawn by the participants should be derived from careful consideration of all available scientific information. The participant should use his/her clinical judgment, knowledge, experience, and diagnostic decision making before applying any information, whether provided here or by others, for any professional use.
For CE questions, please contact Med Learning Group at info@medlearninggroup.com
Contact this CE provider at Med Learning Group for privacy and confidentiality policy statement information at https://www.medlearninggroup.com/privacy-policy/
AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
Staff will be glad to assist you with any special needs. Please contact Med Learning Group prior to participating at info@medlearninggroup.com
ACCME Innovation Partner Disclaimer
Upon your acceptance in the evaluation and completion of this CME activity, Med Learning Group will share your completion information and certain personal details (e.g., name, National Provider Identifier, birthdate MM/DD) with the ACCME for inclusion in your CME Passport transcript and, as applicable, reporting to certifying, licensing, or other regulatory authorities you specify.
This activity is provided by Med Learning Group.
This activity is provided by Med Learning Group. “This activity is supported by an independent educational grant from the Opioid Analgesic REMS Program Companies. Please see https://www.opioidanalgesicrems.com/Resources/Docs/List_of_RPC_Companies.pdf for a listing of REMS Program Companies. This activity is intended to be fully compliant with the Opioid Analgesic REMS education requirements issued by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Copyright © 2026 Med Learning Group. All rights reserved. These materials may be used for personal use only. Any rebroadcast, distribution, or reuse of this presentation or any part of it in any form for other than personal use without the express written permission of Med Learning Group is prohibited.
Release date: January 13, 2026
Expiration date: January 13, 2026
Estimated time to completion: 1.5 hours
