Find new strategies to help manage your patients’ acute or chronic pain while reducing the risk of addiction and abuse with a publication offered by the Federation of State Medical Boards (FSMB).

The book, “Responsible Opioid Prescribing: A Physicians Guide,” translates the FSMB’s consensus model policy on pain management into practical, office-based management guidelines. It provides real-world explanations and practical strategies that address issues of undertreatment of pain, risk of prescription drug abuse and improved patient care, and recommends steps for:

• Ensuring effective patient evaluation
• Creating and maintaining clear, consistent, transparent and detailed documentation
• Creating a function-based treatment plan with actionable patient goals
• Obtaining a written patient-physician agreement that includes informed consent and significant patient education
• Overseeing periodic review that focuses on progress toward functional goals
• Making specialist referrals and managing difficult patients

“Physicians need useful steps that will help them better manage their patients’ pain,” said Lisa Robin, senior vice president of Member Services for the FSMB. “This book bridges the gap between policy and practice, and is an important resource to improve patients’ quality of life.”

The book costs $12.95 and can be ordered online here or by calling (817) 868-4007.