Orlando Medical News June 2018

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Mitigating Florida’s Opioid Crisis

7 key items to know about the new controlled-substance law HB-21 By PL JETER

Florida lawmakers hope new rules governing controlled substances will mitigate the damaging effects of the opioid crisis. Because understanding the 160-ish page House Bill 21 (HB 21) is a daunting task, physicians should know its key components. “We’re a bit worried as an organization there’ll be a large number of physicians and other providers in the community who are unaware of the impact of this bill and may be noncompliant,” said Fraser Cobbe, executive director of Orange County Medical Society and Seminole County Medical Society and conference host of an educational webinar on the implementation of the bill. For example, in North Carolina, after

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similar controlled-substance legislation was implemented via the NC STOP ACT on Jan. 1, thousands of unaware physicians continued prescribing controlled substances in the same manner. “We want to make sure we don’t repeat that experience in Florida,” he said.

Mandatory Physician Education Perhaps the most urgent aspect of HB 21 revolves around mandatory physician education. Before Jan. 31, 2019, all DEA-registered medical providers must take a Board of Medicine-approved 2-hour CME course on prescribing controlled substances. This educational component must be repeated with every license renewal. “The best way physicians will understand

the implications of this bill is by taking the course ASAP,” emphasized Cobb. “It’ll provide a more official overview of the legislation and various components and penalties for noncompliance.” So far, Florida Medical Association, Florida Osteopathic Medical Association, Florida Association of Family Physicians and Florida College of Emergency Physicians are approved providers for the new mandatory course. Online courses will be available; some are free. The medical societies of Orange and Seminole counties will provide the course twice this summer: July 13 and Aug. 18. “Even if you no longer write for opioids or other scheduled drugs, every person registered with the DEA and authorized to

prescribe controlled substances must take this course,” he said. PAs and ARNPs are already mandated to take a 3-hour course to prescribe as required by legislation passed in 2016 allowing both groups the ability to prescribe controlled substances.

Mandatory Review of the Prescription Drug Monitoring Database (E-FORCSE) Effective July 1, prior to prescribing a controlled substance, every prescriber must consult the database to review the controlled substance dispensing history of patients 16 or older. The only exception: (CONTINUED ON PAGE 4)

HEALTHCARELEADER

Maggie Bonko Healthcare means everything for South Seminole Hospital COO Ask Maggie Bonko and she will tell you: Good quality health care is not just about treating patients when they are sick, “it means caring for all aspects of a person… it’s all encompassing.” The COO of South Seminole Hospital, part of the Orlando Health System, is putting that philosophy to work as she oversees the completion of a new $42 million, 30acre medical complex in Lake Mary. The complex is part of the new mixeduse community, New Century, in Lake Mary that will have offices, residences, hotel and retail elements. The goal for this community is to become a sustainable place to live, play and work, and the medical wellness town

center is a big part of that. As someone who grew up in eastern Kentucky, “surrounded by nurses,” Bonko said, “I like looking at health care as a wholelife-package.” The project will feature a free-standing emergency room with 24 exam rooms, an imaging department, ambulance bays and a helipad. In addition, a four-story, 90,000-square-foot medical pavilion will be home to a wider array of outpatient services that are geared to serve Lake Mary’s current needs while being able to anticipate and adapt to the community’s future needs. The health care site includes an acute care hospital, additional medical offices, a potential ambulatory

surgery center and other health and wellness concepts. The new medical complex is just one element in Orlando health’s presence in Seminole County. “We have 15 access-points for the community,” said Bonko, “including five urgent care facilities in which we partner with other healthcare providers.” These “access points” include the South Seminole Hospital, primary care and urgent care offices, imaging clinic, cancer center and the Lake Mary project. It’s a sprawling set of (CONTINUED ON PAGE 6)

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