May 23, 2023
The National Safer Supply Prescriber (NSS-CoP) Consultation Service is overseen by 2 clinical consultants: a physician consultant and a pharmacy consultant. Our physician consultant, Dr. Andrea Sereda, is based at London InterCommunity Health Centre. She is an experienced provider of prescribed safer supply that is based on a public health and harm reduction approach. This model is operationalized in several ways but primarily involves daily dispensed take-home hydromorphone tablets, frequently prescribed alongside observed OAT (methadone, SROM). Consultations are not teaching sessions. Dr. Sereda will share her clinical experience providing safer supply, which draws on clinical guidance, including:
- Safer Opioid Supply Programs (SOS): A Harm Reduction Informed Guiding Document for Primary Care Teams (2020)
- Risk Mitigation In the Context of Dual Public Health Emergencies. 2020.
Our pharmacist consultant is Mark Barnes, pharmacist/owner and Director of Community Outreach and Overdose Prevention, of Respect Rx Pharmacy in Ottawa Ontario.
Please note:
- Consultants are not providing training or teaching. Alternatively, they are sharing clinical experience based on their practice in their region/community.
- Community needs, illegal drug supply, and organizational culture may differ and must be taken into account by the calling prescriber.
- There is a continuous expansion and evolution of models to meet the needs of clients and the community context. This includes different ways of operationalizing programs and a slowly expanding range of medical options (e.g., Fentora, fentanyl patches).
- We will review how the service is working in 6 months and may make changes to the structure or expectations.
EXPECTATIONS:
Dr. Sereda and Mark Barnes (or a covering consultant) will reply to your email within 48 hours.
To access the consultation service, you must register and agree to the following terms and conditions:
- The consultation email address is provided on a strictly confidential basis. It is not to be shared.
- You may refer other prescribers to register for the consultation service.
- You agree to document the consultation with prescriber name and CPSO or CNO number.
- You agree to participate in a feedback survey every six months.