Inspira Local 5131 Holds Opioid Education Seminar for Members

On Wednesday, May 9th members from HPAE Local 5131 Southern Jersey Healthcare  attended a continuing education program entitled “The Opioid Crisis: Improving Frontline Addiction Treatments with Policy, Knowledge, and Training.” The program is part of HPAE’s growing portfolio of options for members to obtain Contact Hours for re-licensure.

The seminar was a joint effort between HPAE members Sheila Schicker and Katie Vaughan (Local 5629, Sunrise House), Cathy Grant (Local 5091, New Bridge Medical Center), and Heidi Hansen, HPAE public policy staff. Topics on the agenda were: Facts, Figures, and Policy (Heidi); OORP Intervention/How to Administer Narcan (Cathy); and Compassionate Care for Clients and Caregivers (Sheila and Katie).

Local 5131 members were engaged in exercises requiring participation ranging from “20-Questions” regarding statistics on opioid use in the U.S. and New Jersey to examining their role as healthcare providers and the real possibility of compassion fatigue. Member presenters Cathy, Sheila, and Katie offered real life scenarios from their work experiences, inviting member participants to share any stories relating to opioid use that they experienced with their patients.

The program ran over two hours with many questions from participants and a request for the opioid team to return in the fall because demand was so high.