Introduction
The opioid crisis continues to be a significant public health concern across the nation, and Kane County is not exempt from its effects. In the U.S., there was a 30% increase in drug-related overdose deaths during the COVID-19 pandemic compared to pre-pandemic rates.
1 These overdose deaths were primarily driven by opioids and highlights the importance of access to treatment as opioid-related mortality was exacerbated during the pandemic.
2
To address this challenge, the Kane County Health Department invites physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and psychiatrists to participate in an initiative aimed at increasing access to medication assisted recovery via buprenorphine treatment – the compassionate and evidence-based gold standard for individuals suffering from opioid use disorder (OUD). Participants must primarily work in Kane County.
Program Components
1. Registration and Pre-TestParticipants must complete a
registration form and 5-minute pre-test which will assess knowledge and attitudes in relation to prescribing buprenorphine for the treatment of opioid use disorder.
2. Training Webinar, April 18, 2025, 12pm - 2pm
"Treating Opioid Use Disorder with Buprenorphine," a webinar led by local experts in the field of addiction medicine, Stephen Holtsford, MD and Diana Bottari, DO, FAAP, ADM, ABOIM will:
- Equip participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to assess, initiate, and manage buprenorphine treatment for patients with opioid use disorder, including appropriate dosing, monitoring, and addressing potential complications.
- Educate participants on the legal, ethical, and documentation requirements for prescribing buprenorphine, including understanding DEA and SAMHSA guidelines, mitigating diversion risks, and maintaining patient confidentiality.
- Increase awareness of the role of wraparound services (behavioral health support, case management, social services) in improving patient outcomes and fostering sustained recovery.
A brief post-test will follow the training. After completing the
registration form, you'll receive a confirmation email containing a Zoom registration link for the training.
3. Peer Support Session
A virtual peer support session led by the physician trainers at which participants can share their experiences and questions that may have arisen since the training will allow participants new to the practice of addiction medicine involving buprenorphine and experienced prescribers to learn from one another, establish a good local standard of practice, provide and receive ongoing support, guidance, and clinical consultation to their peers, and build confidence and competence in buprenorphine prescribing. Participants will attend one or both peer support sessions on the following dates:
- June 13, 2025 from 12pm - 1pm
- September 26, 2025 from 12pm - 1pm
A final brief post-test will follow the peer support sessions.
Compensation
Participants who complete all components of the training and study will receive a total of $400 in Amazon gift cards payable according to the following schedule:
- $200 gift card sent by e-mail following a completed registration, pre-test, April 18, 2025 from 12pm - 2pm virtual buprenorphine training and post-test 1.
- $200 gift card sent by e-mail following one peer support meeting on either June 13, 2025 from 12pm - 1pm or September 26, 2025 from 12pm - 1pm and completion of post-test 2.
Registration
