Resources for Providers
Resources are available for clinicians who treat pain with and without prescription opioids. Resources most relevant to the OPIP program are listed on this webpage.
Buprenorphine for the treatment of chronic pain
Buprenorphine is a medication that offers effective pain control without the risks associated with full opioid agonists. Buprenorphine has a ceiling effect that minimizes respiratory depression and sedation, significantly decreasing the likelihood of overdose. Buprenorphine also may reduce problems associated with long term full opioid use such as increasing tolerance and hyperalgesia. Buprenorphine preserves function and pain relief while lowering serious safety risks for many patients.
The following resources are available to providers to learn more about using buprenorphine for the treatment of chronic pain.
- Veteran’s Administration (VA) clinical guidance for prescribing Buprenorphine for the Management of Chronic Pain (PDF).
- Stratis Health hosted two webinars on the topic of prescribing buprenorphine for chronic pain:
- Dr. Isaac Marsolek, Buprenorphine for Pain – You Can Too! YouTube Video
- Dr. Lee Radosh, Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain YouTube Video
- Journal articles
Project ECHO
Project ECHO is a virtual learning model intended to improve access to high-quality specialty care by empowering local providers, reducing health disparities, and enhancing the capacity of the health care system to care for patients in their own communities. DHS currently supports the following four Project ECHO models:
- Stratis Health Opioid Addiction in Rural (SOAR) Education and Treatment
- Hennepin Healthcare Integrated Opioid and Addiction Care
- Stratis Health Midwest Tribal ECHO for OUD
- Hennepin Health Integrated Pain Care
No Pain Minnesota
The No Pain Minnesota website is for anyone to find evidence-based nonopioid and nonpharmacological pain treatment methods, options, and qualified providers throughout the Minnesota.
OPIP Quality Improvement tools
The Opioid Prescribing Improvement Program contracted with the Institute for Clinical Systems Improvement (ICSI) to create a tenable and practical quality improvement (QI) resources specific to opioid prescribing.
- Community Standards of Practice (PDF) for opioid prescribing
- Self assessment tools for acute, post-acute and chronic pain phases:
- Acute (non-surgical specialties): OPIP: Measure 2 self-assessment (nonsurgical specialties) (DHS-8264) (PDF)
- Acute (surgical specialties): OPIP: Measure 2 self-assessment (surgical specialties) (DHS-8264A) (PDF)
- Post Acute: OPIP: Measure 3 self-assessment (DHS-8264B) (PDF)
- Chronic: OPIP: Measures 5 & 6 self-assessment (DHS-8264E) (PDF)
- Quality and Patient Safety Checklist for Pain Practices (PDF)
Minnesota Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP)
The Minnesota Prescription Monitoring Program (PMP) is a tool to be used by prescribers and pharmacists to assist in managing their patient’s care. It contains individualized reports and state-wide prescribing data reported by Minnesota licensed pharmacies and prescriber dispensers.