New resource helps assess patients at risk of prescription drug abuse

Purdue Pharma L.P. has introduced a free educational resource called "Patient Evaluation Resources For Opioid Risk Management" (PERFORM) to assist healthcare professionals assess the risk of medication misuse in patients.

Charles Argoff, MD, professor of neurology at Albany Medical College and director of the Comprehensive Pain Center at Albany Medical Center, helped develop PERFORM because "it is important for healthcare professionals to be able to recognize and address substance abuse in order to address medication therapy adherence and to intervene when appropriate."

PERFORM offers a relevant, interactive resource that engages the learner through critical thinking and real-world practical applications while also reinforcing Purdue's commitment to improving patient care while managing risks. The PERFORM resource is an interactive CD-ROM with accompanying resource binder and includes:

• Case vignettes illustrating low, moderate, and high-risk patients;
• Video from four leading healthcare professionals providing insight and guidance in the utilization of pain assessment and risk assessment tools;
• Patient screening tools;
• Documentation and monitoring information;
• Patient education tips;
• Links to other resources for healthcare professionals; and
• Links to resources that healthcare professional can provide to their patients.

"Analyses of educational needs assessments, feedback from managed care decision-makers, and the advent of the class-wide REMS all point to the need for this type of education," said Lisa Miller, Pharm.D., executive director of Healthcare Education and Liaison programs at Purdue. "This resource will assist health professionals who are on the frontline of providing care to patients."

The PERFORM resource along with a wide variety of learning tools are available at no cost for health professionals to help them improve practice skills and support improved patient care. Tools are available at www.PurduePharmaMedEdResources.com.

For more about PERFORM, watch the video below.