COMs commit to broadening medical education on opioid prescribing

As part of the AOA’s ongoing collaboration with the White House to address the nation’s opioid epidemic, the AOA and the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine received commitments from 27 osteopathic medical schools requiring all students beginning in fall 2016 to take some form of prescriber education in order to graduate.

Nationally, 60 medical schools agreed to require students receive training in line with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines.

“By teaching and reaffirming appropriate prescribing throughout the continuum of osteopathic medical education, DOs are working to improve the quality of care now and for future generations of physicians,” said AOA President John W. Becher, DO, in a statement.

The AOA has been active in seeking solutions to the opioid epidemic, partnering with both the White House and the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and working with the Office of the Surgeon General. The AOA also participated in a work group convened by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy to facilitate collaboration between physicians and pharmacists to stem abuse of opioids.