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Situation:
The Payette Clinic, a Vancouver-based primary care and pain clinic (not affiliated with Southwest) is under Federal investigation after allegations of prescribing inappropriate doses of narcotics.
Background:
In early April, providers at the Payette Clinic stopped writing narcotic prescriptions at the request of the US Drug Enforcement Administration. While the investigation continues, some 800 Payette Clinic patients are without a source for their medication. Many of these patients are likely to experience severe withdrawal and will need to access alternative forms of care.
Assessment:
This is a significant local public health issue because of the limited resources for opiate withdrawal and chronic pain management. An ad hoc committee of physicians in pain management, chemical dependence, mental health and primary care, administrators, chemical dependence clinics and primary care groups has developed the following documents and resources which may helpful to local physicians who are encountering these patients.
Recommendation:
Please scan the list of hotlinks below and click on any item you might find useful.
If you have any questions related to these documents, Michael Bernstein, MD, and John Hart, DO, are good resources.
Michael Bernstein, MD
Physician Director
Department of Behavioral Health
Southwest Washington Medical Center
360.696.5307
mbernst@swmedicalcenter.org
John Hart, DO
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Southwest Washington Medical Center
360.514.3142
jhart@swmedicalcenter.org
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