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Theresa Riethle, program director and associate professor for our physician assistant program, represented the University at a Baker-Polio administration associated press conference on Monday, August 22, launching statewide cross-institutional core competencies for healthcare professionals. The effort aims to expand the reach and use of the core competencies established for the prevention and management of prescription drug misuse.

, the cross-institutional core competencies will ensure physician assistants and advanced practice nurses educated in the Commonwealth, as well as community health center employees, receive enhanced training in primary, secondary, and tertiary prevention strategies regarding prescription drug misuse.

“This effort really strikes at two things. First, the issue of opioids is significant, and one that is hard-hitting at both the local and national levels,” Riethle said. “As a healthcare professional and educator, it’s my belief that if we are developing the next generation of prescribers, they should have appropriate training, and I’m glad to see that it’s a statewide priority.”

Riethle is one of nine leaders in the physician assistant education field engaged in this first-in-the-nation partnership, alongside 13 advanced practice nursing program leaders and 50 community health centers.

“The collaborative effort between the colleges, universities, and organizations involved in completing this task was a wonderful experience that will result in amazing outcomes for future prescribers and a win for healthcare in Massachusetts and beyond,” Riethle said. 

In addition to meeting with Governor Baker and his administration at the conference, the group was addressed by Health and Human Services Secretary Marylou Sudders and Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel, MD, MPH.

“I am now working closely with Shannon Widderick, director of didactic education, to integrate the objectives in different aspects of our curriculum. 80 percent of our graduates work locally, so we are proud that the future prescribers that we are producing will have this training,” Riethle said.

“The objectives hit three main areas: prevention, identifying substance use disorders, and referring patients to appropriate treatment. There’s also an objective geared towards evidence-based practice for prevention and management, meaning that regulated protocols will be in place so prescribers are following set guidelines for screening. That will be key to the practice.” 

The press conference launching the core competencies coincided with the release of the Massachusetts Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) that has already seen a prescriber registration rate of 70 percent. The system allows participating prescribers to access patient prescription history and receive educational information concerning drug changes and distribution.