By invitation of Regional AHEC, Dr. Lynn Bowlby, Duke associate professor of medicine (general internal medicine), presented virtual grand rounds November 18th to clinicians at the Cape Fear Valley Health System in Fayetteville, North Carolina, about opioid medication management.
“Safe Opioid Prescribing”, the topic for this forum is a familiar subject for Dr. Bowlby. As the medical director for the Duke Outpatient Clinic, she can be credited with developing a careful structure for opioid prescribing.
Over the past several years, Bowlby has been a featured speaker about management of opioids in more than one setting, for example: teaching a portion of the Primary Care Training and Enhancement Program, delivering a panel discussion sponsored by Wake AHEC to help providers meet the new CME requirement and other grand rounds presentations.
Reducing fear of prescribing opioids
Interestingly, now the focus is reducing the fear of prescribing opioids. Dr. Bowlby tells us that so many providers have just totally stopped ever using opioids, yet these drugs are our most powerful pain medication.
Dr. Bowlby and her colleagues are helping physicians and advanced practice providers gain confidence about tapering or stopping pain meds, and how to say "no" to opioids without ruining the relationship.
Thank you, Dr. Bowlby, for being a respected resource both within and beyond Duke Health!